MARGAO: “Don’t vote for political parties who are going to exploit the people and show ignorance towards the issues pertaining to the environment,” Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said while interacting with ‘Amchem Mollem’ movement activists at Margao.
Priyanka was in Goa to launch the party’s Goa campaign, wherein media persons were denied entry to cover the event in the initial stage.
Activists, mostly youth members submitted a memorandum, called ‘Green Memorandum’ to Priyanka and urged her to include it in the election manifesto of the party.
Initially representatives of the ‘Amchem Mollem’ gave details about the movement to protect the Mollem forests from destruction.
“All the inhabitants need to be taken into consideration by the policy makers. Goa is almost suffering from the consequences of the climate changes. And it has affected their livelihood also. We want a political party to prepare a manifesto which will be focussed on sustainability, equity and social justice”, said one of the activist’s.
The activists further said the young people of Goa are ready to work with the government for the betterment of Goa.
Interacting with the activists Priyanka said she is proud of the Goan youth for raising the issues of protecting the environment.
“We have already promised to scrap the three linear projects once the Congress comes to power. I urge the activists involved in the ‘Amchem Mollem’ movement to deliberate on the issues with the party leaders in Goa. The issues raised should be included in the election manifesto”, she said.
The Congress leader further said politicians fully understand the issues related to preserving the environment, but it is a question of intent. Many times political parties look at the resources as methods of exploitation, and this mentality has to be changed.
“When the government doesn’t intend to hear the people, the basic thing that goes missing is they don’t have respect for people. Also they don’t have respect for the environment. The government is intentionally ignoring the issues of environment and others. Congress is here to change that,” Priyanka said.
Activists present at the function also raised the issues related to river nationalisation, coal hub besides other issues.
