PANJIM: Incharge of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday denied reports of Congress MLAs joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming sheer rumors, and said the MLAs are committed to the party.
Commenting on the recent statement made by the Leader of Opposition in favor of BJP on holding of panchayat elections, Rao said, “Statement made by the Leader of Opposition is his individual opinion. Individual opinions are subject to variation and therefore no one can comment on it”.
“Congress as a whole, strongly believes that panchayat elections should be held within the stipulated time period by paying due respect to the system of reservation and Supreme Court order”, he added. Rao further urged the government to conduct panchayat elections without playing delay-delay tactics.
Rao alleged that the BJP government is trying to divert the people from real issues using communal agenda.
Rao said, “Efforts will be made to form various Block Committees within the next ten days. The Congress leaders will interact with the booth committee to form the ‘Mandal Committee’ which is an intermediate committee to identify the ground level Congress workers and supporters”.
“All block committees will be formed by end of this month”, he added.
Informing about the padyatra planned by the Congress to celebrate the 75th year of Independence, Rao said, “A mega campaign will be launched from August 9, from both, North and the South Goa which will culminate on August 15, Independence Day”.
Rao said that the key intention behind launching the mega campaign is to celebrate the multi-cultural, multilingual, and vast diversity of the country.
Addressing media persons, GPCC president Amit Patkar said, “This padyatra will boost the morale of ground supporters of Congress”. “In a month or two people of Goa will see a more aggressive Congress”, claimed Patkar.
President of the National Student’s Union of India (NSUI) Naushad Choudhary believes that the padyatra will unite the people and spread communal harmony in the country.
Mahila Congress President Beena Naik and Congress Youth President Varad Mardolkar were also present for the briefing.
