PANJIM: Four Congress leaders including Panjim block committee President Prasad Amonkar on Thursday tendered resignation from the party accusing it of trying to mislead and create fear amongst minorities on the new Citizenship law.
Three of the four, later in the afternoon joined the ruling BJP extending their support to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Amonkar, North Goa minority cell chief Javed Sheikh, Block committee secretary Dinesh Kubal and former youth leader Shivraj Tarkar along with entire Panjim block, resigned from the party, protesting against Congress stand on CAA and NRC.
Following resignation, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) dissolved Panjim block Congress committee.
Earlier, addressing media persons, Amonkar said that they do not agree with Congress stand on CAA and NRC.
“We oppose the wrong stand taken by Congress on CAA and NRC. As an opposition, we need to be critical and not just oppose something for the sake of opposition. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act needs to be welcomed,” he said.
He said that Congress should stop misleading people and creating fear in the minds of minorities for political mileage. “Our State is peace loving State and Congress is trying to instigate minorities,” he said.
Later in a statement issued, GPCC Vice-President M K Sheikh said that the Panjim block committee is dissolved with immediate effect. “The new block will be reconstituted after consulting block members,” he said.
Later addressing media, GPCC Vice-President Dharma Chodankar said that they are yet to receive the resignation from all four; however, the party has dissolved the block.
“I would like to know from Amonkar and his colleagues why he did not discuss his apprehensions with the party rather than resigning on the issue of CAA,” Chodankar said adding that Amonkar was part of the anti-CAA protest held by Congress, last week.
