Team Herald
PANJIM: The Congress on Sunday urged to the President of India to immediately appoint a full-time Governor, who will work towards protecting the identity of Goa and give justice to Goans.
Stating that in the 60th year of its Liberation and on the 35th Goa Statehood Day, the 25th State of Republic of India is without a full-time Governor, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat said Goa is struggling and gasping due to mismanagement of the BJP government.
“We don’t have a full-time Governor since the last nine months who can proactively address the concerns of Goans. We urge the President of India to hear the voice of the people and appoint a full-time Governor immediately,” said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar.
The Congress wrote a letter to the President demanding a full-time Governor. The letter signed by Kamat and Chodankar has brought to the notice of the President of India the urgent need to appoint a full-time Governor.
“As we observe the 35th Goa Statehood Day, the entire State of Goa is facing the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the people of Goa badly. To add to our woes, we were hit by cyclone Tauktae a few days back which caused further devastation to the State. Goa has recorded almost 1,54,419 COVID positive cases with the death toll currently at 2597. We want to place on record that most of these deaths have been caused because of gross negligence and mismanagement of the BJP government in Goa.
Our State made national and international headlines for all the wrong reasons when almost 75 COVID patients died due to lack of oxygen supply in Goa Medical College,” the letter stated.
The Chief Minister has announced that Goa suffered a loss of Rs 146 crore due to Cyclone Tauktae.
“Although, we had devastating effect on our State, the Prime Minister of India did not show the courtesy to conduct an aerial survey of Goa nor announce any package to our State,” both the Congress leaders pointed out in the letter.
The letter addressed to the President further mentions that Goa is grappling with various other issues such as economic slowdown due to closure of mining, stoppage of tourism activity and the curfew announced by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.
“We have time and again raised the issues concerning the people of Goa and submitted memorandums and representations to the Governor as well as the Chief Minister. We regret to inform you that our concerns are not addressed by either of them which have resulted in sufferings of innocent people,” they stated.
As Goa is commemorating 60 years of Liberation, the absence of this Constitutional Authority has resulted in complete chaos, mismanagement and misrule in the government administration. The Chief Minister and his entire cabinet colleagues are busy in mudslinging on each other. There are open confrontations between the Chief Minister and the Health Minister as well as other cabinet ministers. There are instances wherein contradictory statements are issued by the ministers which result in creating panic in the minds of the people. All this has resulted in complete collapse of administration,” the duo said.
They further pointed out that the Congress had already submitted a memorandum to the current Governor demanding dismissal of the government for its failure to protect the fundamental right to life of the people.
