Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa police on Wednesday prevented Congress leaders from marching towards the Raj Bhavan at Dona Paula as a nation-wide protest demonstration to highlight various issues, including BJP’s policy to “defend” Gautam Adani, job, land scams and the collapse of the law and order machinery in the State.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Congress leaders including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar and Vice President Sunil Kawthankar were detained and stopped in their tracks before they could proceed to the Raj Bhavan.
The Congressmen were protesting against the indictment of billionaire Gautam Adani, along with seven other Adani group executives, by a United States court on charges of alleged fraud and bribery.
Congressmen raised slogans like ‘BJP-Adani Bhai Bhai, Desh Bech Ke Khayi Malayi’ and ‘Gali Gali Me Shor Hai, Adani Chor Hai. However the protesting leaders were prevented at the Raj Bhavan entrance by heavy police force. When they tried to enter the premises forcefully, police detained them.
Speaking to reporters, Amit Patkar said,” Today the entire Goa is watching how a land grabbing accused escaped from the custody of the crime branch but the government did not do anything. We have seen how Suleman Siddiqui (a land grab accused) escaped from the police custody. But this government is not saying anything about that. Action is being taken against those who are whistleblowers.”
“Today we had to meet the Governor but we were not allowed. Attempts are being made to suppress the voice of the Opposition,” he said.
“Yesterday we saw how the Architect of the Indian Constitution B R Ambedkar was insulted and we condemn the home minister of this country for making a remark against Baba Saheb,” he said.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesman Tulio D’Souza alleged that suppressing voice of Opposition has become policy of the government.
“The land grabbing accused has fled but the government is trying to instill fear in the minds of the whistle blowers. But how long can you suppress the truth? Government is not making any statement on the indictment of Adani,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress announced that it will lead a protest march to CM’s residence on Dec 21, to highlight the BJP-led government’s failure to address critical issues affecting Goans.
The issues which would be highlighted during the protest include rampant land grabbing and illegal land conversions, deteriorating law and order situation and corruption and job scams, undermining the future of youth of the state, a statement from Congress said.
“The BJP government has consistently failed to provide satisfactory answers to these pressing concerns, which directly impact the identity, heritage, and livelihoods of Goans,” the statement added.
