PANJIM: A day after outgoing President John Fernandes accused Congressmen of colluding with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to dislodge him from the post, the Goa Congress Pradesh Committee slammed the allegation as “baseless” and termed it as his “anger” against the party leadership for replacing him.
The office bearers have also condemned Fernandes’ statement against newly appointed chief Luizinho Faleiro, whom the former had termed as “weak” opposition. Luizinho would be taking charge of GPCC on October 14.
Addressing a press conference Thursday evening, GPCC spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said that the allegations leveled by Fernandes are baseless and without any evidence. “These allegations are nothing but creation of his own mind,” he said, adding that the accusations are just to give vent to his anger against the party leadership for replacing him.
Kawthankar said that Fernandes’ allegation that party will become a floating company of BJP is highly objectionable. “Using the party platform to challenge and ridicule the decision of high command has come as a shock to GPCC and hence we strongly condemn the statements of our ex-chief,” Kawthankar said. He, however, refused to comment whether disciplinary action would be sought against Fernandes for his anti-party statements.
The Congress spokesperson added that the decision to initiate action against Fernandes lies with the new party president. He said that Luizinho has made a supreme sacrifice in accepting the responsibility of heading the party. The call given by the new president for unity of all the like-minded people to come together is welcomed, he added.
