Team Herald
MARGAO: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has said that with the hospitalisation of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, there is a leadership vacuum in the government.
Besides, AAP said, there is crisis in education, health care and even employment sector which demands a change in government
Addressing a large number of party volunteers at Margao, AAP leader Atishi Marlena said, “Today, Goans are not confident that the food they eat is safe, thanks to the formalin laced fish sold in the market; people are not sure that when they keep the bodies of their loved ones in GMC morgue, they would get them back.”
“Whether it is the BJP or the Congress they make the same false promises. While the life of the common man remains the same, the financial status of the elected representatives multiplies exponentially.”
“What we require is honesty and commitment to bring about a change and that is what AAP has,” she said recalling that when AAP was formed people laughed at the idea of carrying on with politics without money or muscle power however, the results surprised everybody as AAP won 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi.
She gave various examples of how the Central government made it difficult for the AAP government to function in Delhi and how despite all these attempts the party has brought about a change in Delhi within three years which is now being recognized worldwide.
“We have changed the health care sector and our Mohalla clinics are being spoken about internationally as the change in government schools which perform better than the private schools is also being debated world over,” she said.
AAP Goa Convener Elvis Gomes said the party is not aiming to impress people but to impact people and while pointing out that not a single person involved in the mining scam has gone to jail as promised by Manohar Parrikar cautioned that Goan land is being handed over to others.
“100 lakh sq mts of land has been given to GMR for the Mopa airport, entire village of Terekhol has been given to Leading Hotel to set up the golf course. Not a single Goan is employed at the works going on there and how will then employ Goans once the projects are ready?” he asked.
While asserting that vested interests have purchased huge tracts of land adjoining the Mopa airport site which he said the party will reveal shortly, Elvis also pointed out that the officer who had found formalin in the fish had to go to the Human Rights Commission as she was being harassed.
AAP General Secretary Pradeep Padgaonkar lamented that Goa Forward Party that used to curse BJP earlier is today hobnobbing with the same party and wondered how a minister like Jayesh Salgaonkar could talk about caste by stating that the next chief minister should be from Bhandari samaj.
While pointing out that AAP is the only party opposing the wrong policies and decisions of the government said it was the only party objecting to the casinos in Goa while all other parties are silent on the matter.
Rodney Almeida welcomed the gathering and AAP appointed constituency coordinators for 21 constituencies. The website and south Goa office of the party that has been donated by a benefactor was also inaugurated.
