TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Congress leadership on Thursday unveiled a road map to galvanise a demoralised party rank and file ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha poll, with AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh exhorting workers to take up the challenge of communal and right wing parties, while launching an attack on the Parrikar-led government on the issue of casinos, procurement of e-tablets and for floating tenders via the GSIDC to escape the PWD manual.
Digvijaya told party workers to stand up and fight for Congress leaders implicated in false cases, while at the same time saying the party would not protect the corrupt misdeeds of party leaders. The AICC general secretary showered praises on the Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane and PCC chief John Fernandes, saying “in Rane and John we have a combination who can lead the Goa Congress in the future”. He felt the Congress in Goa is strong, but hastened to add that what the party lacks is the cohesive effort of workers on the field and the leadership at the top.
“The challenge now lies with Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane and PCC president John Fernandes to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence amongst the workers,” he added.
The AICC general secretary further said the Congress would announce party candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats by mid-March, adding that the party would settle for a candidate who is acceptable to the party cadre, enjoys a clean image and believes in the Congress ideology. “The Congress would retain power at the centre if every congressmen stands up to the challenge posed by the communal and right wing parties”, he told PCC members
To rid out non-performing block Congress presidents, Digvijaya authorised the PCC president to replace the block presidents after consultation with senior members of the block. He also urged the PCC to treat the MLAs with respect and involve them in the organisation and gave a call to the party leadership to protect the party worker from discrimination and intimidation
“Don’t be demoralised by the poll surveys. These surveys had given an edge to the BJP in 2004 and 2009, but we retained power at the centre. Make use of the social media to spread party’s achievements. Activate all party cells. Set up at Help Line at the PCC to take up issues plaguing Goa and establish direct contact with the people. All corruption cases against the BJP needs to be exposed”, he told the PCC, while asking the PCC president to go for mass circulation of the talking points on UPA’s achievements at the centre.
Digvijay has mooted conventions in the Assembly constituencies in the next 45 days, besides two district conventions ahead of the polls
Launching an attack on the Chief Minister, Digvijaya said Parrikar is known for making tall promises, without any deliveries. “The e-tablet tender has been given to a company with strong links to the BJP. Parrikar has done a U-turn on the casinos. The GSIDC is now taking away works from the PWD and executing poor quality projects”, he asserted.
Only two party MLAs, Pratapsing Rane and Reginaldo Lourenco were conspicuous by their presence for the PCC meeting.
… for early resumption of mining
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Congress party has urged the Supreme Court, the Union Ministry of Mines and Environment and the Goa government to facilitate early resumption of legal mining in the state, even as AICC general Secretary Digvijaya Singh asked the Pradesh Congress Committee to carry out a study and present a report to the High command on the issue of special status for Goa.
Digvijaya also called for introspection by the Supreme Court appointed panel to examine as to why the iron ore has been priced so low at the auction, while raising the question of competitive bidding of the ore. “I urge the Supreme Court, the Union Forest and Environment Ministry and the Goa government to find a way out so that legal mining can resume so that people are not denied of their livelihood,” he told the media after attending the PCC meeting at Margao.
Saying that legal mining should start immediately after adhering to the rules and regulations, Digvijaya took a dig at the chief Minister for his promise to start mining in May. “Parrikar should realise that unless the Supreme Court decides on the lease issue, mining cannot start”, he said, while accusing Parrikar for not making any mention at the renewal of leases of holder in his PAC report.
On Special status, he said the Congress believes in protecting the identity and culture of Goa, adding that the PCC would be asked to compile a report on the unanimous demands of Goans for special status.
On the Canacona building tragedy, Digvijaya called for a Judicial inquiry into the matter and fix responsibility on the builders and contractor. He said the wall collapse at the Dabolim airport terminal show poor quality of construction.
The AICC general secretary took a dig at Narendra Modi, saying his one point agenda is to abuse the Congress, while accusing Modi for running away from a debate on Gujarat development.
He also attacked AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for having not replied to his 26 questions, while demanding to know whether Kejriwal had taking AAP workers into confidence before resigning as Chief Minister.
and for scrapping the FDI in retail.
On commuting of death sentence of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers, Digvijaya said Sonia Gandhi had herself had approached to commute the death sentence, but took strong exception to TN Chief Minister, Jayalalitha’s purported order to release the killers from prison. “Let us no politicise the issue. The Supreme Court has stayed the TN order on release of the prisoners. Let us not compromise on the perpetrators of the terror act”, he said.
