Vasco: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday hit out at the Goa BJP government over corruption, price rise and law-and-order issues.
Addressing a gathering at Birla Zuarinagar during the Goy Rakhonn Yatra, Shivakumar said Goa had reached a “rotten situation”.
“We need to see the present situation of Goa and where it stands today. We have to work together to give Goa a better future and make it a new and better Goa,” he said.
Shivakumar said Congress, if voted to power, would work to revive Goa’s economy, curb corruption, improve law and order and restore tourism.
He criticised political defections, saying they had caused turmoil and eroded people’s trust in politicians. He alleged that several members of the present Cabinet had originally been associated with Congress before defecting. He assured the gathering that such defections would not be repeated if Congress returned to power.
Shivakumar said the party had worked for all sections of society and contributed to strengthening the country. He said Congress had given the nation freedom, democracy, the national flag and the Constitution.
On voting rights, he alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had deleted the names of
poor people and minorities from electoral rolls. He claimed that 12 to 15 per cent of votes had been deleted and said Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were fighting to protect citizens’ voting rights.
“The right to vote is the right to live,” he said, adding that Congress would protect democracy if voted to power.
On Goa-specific issues, Shivakumar raised land conversions and alleged that people’s rights were being taken away.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s role in the freedom struggle, Shivakumar said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was now fighting another freedom struggle.
BJP workers stopped at Dabolim over Mhadei protest
VASCO: BJP workers gathered outside Dabolim Airport on Thursday with placards protesting against the diversion of Mhadei river waters ahead of Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s arrival, leading to a brief tense situation.
The placards carried messages opposing the diversion of Mhadei waters, including the slogan “Let Mhadei Flow, Let Goa Grow.”
After Shivakumar arrived, the protesters attempted to proceed towards the exit gate, but police stopped them. The workers said they intended to hold a peaceful protest.
Mormugao SDPO SP Gurudas Kadam reached the spot and asked the protesters to disperse.
The protesters subsequently dispersed, preventing the situation from escalating further.
