Team Herald
MARGAO: Goans for Goa (GFG), at it general body meeting on Monday, decided to launch a regional people’s party to “get rid of political garbage”. It was also decided that when the political party is formed, Kennedy Afonso will resign from the post of president and primary member of GFG to ensure that the group will remain a non-political forum.
Amidst several resolutions in view of the 2017 Assembly elections, GFG also resolved that the party should not have any existing or old MLAs and MPs as candidates or members.
“The candidates must be chosen by the people of their respective constituencies, from among the activists, intellectuals, grassroots leaders and other passionate individuals fighting for Goa,” said Kennedy.
GFG has also decided to look at working with like-minded groups, activists, intellectuals, and grassroots leaders to form a strong and united party for Goa, subject to certain conditions being met.
“Before the formation of the party, a manifesto drafted by GFG will be laid before the people in a convention to be discussed and deliberated soon after Christmas,” said Afonso, adding, “The name of the party should be Goans for Goa Party (GFGP) or any other name approved by the group. The symbol should be a Bell, as it symbolises that the people will try to bell the 40 cats terrorising Goa.”
The general body also proposed that the flag of the party should be the ‘traditional Kashti’, a fabric they said symbolises security, and hard work of the indigenous people of Goa.
The general body also criticised the BJP government for betraying the trust of the people after getting the mandate and the Congress for being a shambolic opposition party and being hand-in-gloves with the BJP.
GFG felt that other national parties, like AAP and NCP, had also failed to occupy the space of the opposition. It also accused the BJP government of trying to form splinter groups and alleged that the ‘third fronts’ are to split the minorities in South Goa.
“The need for a strong regional people’s party has long been felt in Goa, and more so now, as the national parties have started the degradation of the Goan environment. It’s time that Goans rise to protect themselves and their environment,” said Kennedy.
