PONDA: Congress Party South Goa Lok Sabha candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes has urged the people to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its fake promises, injustice and growing inflation including exorbitant prices of petrol and diesel which is hard hitting common man.
During his election campaign at Ponda, Capt Fernandes said, “Mahabharat like situation (injustice) has arisen. We have five MLAs of INDIA Bloc as Pandavas and with their support we will defeat Kauravas in South Goa constituency.”
Capt Fernandes said there would be Tsunami of votes on May 7, as people of the State are currently silent and would express their anger on voting day and teach a lesson to the BJP.
He said he is getting response beyond expectations from all 20 Assembly constituencies and that BJP defeat is certain again this time.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao local Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar and others were present.
Referring to BJP’s plans to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting at Curchorem, Capt Fernandes said mining belt people suffered a lot due to closure of mining activity. Modi had promised in 2019 Lok Sabha polls to restart mining. Now he is coming again and should clarify whether he is coming to apologise or give new guarantee on mining.
He said right from Bogmalo to Canacona, the people in South Goa tourist belt including taxis, rickshaws, hotels, shacks, stalls, rely on tourism for their livelihood; however the government is planning to shut Dabolim airport which could snatch their livelihood. The Government of India is planning to take control over Goa’s coastline and six rivers in the State were nationalised in 2016. Similarly now Goa faces water crisis but there is BJP’s tacit support to divert Mhadei water to Karnataka not because water shortage but to facilitate steel plant and coal in Karnataka. He assured the people that the Congress will fight against all these issues and protect Goa.
