Sarvan Karapur 100 days protest exposes BJP Government’s betrayal
Goa Khabar : Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Chairman of the Media & Communication Department, Amarnath Panjikar, has strongly condemned the remarks made by BJP Goa President Damu Naik against the Goans protesting at Jantar Mantar, stating that his comments expose the BJP’s arrogance and its dangerous mind set of equating the ruling party with the identity of Goa.
Reacting sharply, Amarnath Panjikar said, “Damu Naik seems to believe that the BJP is Goa. The truth is that Goa belongs to its people—not to the BJP. It is the people of Goa who define the State’s identity, culture and future, not the propaganda of a political party. No government and no political party has the monopoly to speak on behalf of Goa.”
Panjikar said that Damu Naik’s attempt to blame the protesters for tarnishing Goa’s image is a desperate attempt to divert attention from the BJP Government’s own failures.
“If Goa’s image has suffered, it is because of the greed, arrogance and anti-people policies of the BJP Government. The very fact that Goans have been protesting continuously for more than 100 days and were ultimately forced to take their struggle to Jantar Mantar in the nation’s capital is itself the biggest charge sheet against the BJP Government. It is proof that the Government has failed to listen to its own people,” he said.
He further stated that no citizen leaves home, travels hundreds of kilometres to Delhi and continues a prolonged protest unless every avenue for justice has been deliberately closed by the State Government.
“Instead of engaging with the concerns of the people, the BJP has chosen to brand every protest as politics and every protester as anti-Goa. This reflects the BJP’s intolerance towards democratic dissent and its complete disconnect from the aspirations of ordinary Goans,” Panjikar remarked.
He said that the BJP Government has repeatedly chosen to protect vested interests instead of safeguarding Goa’s fragile ecology, heritage and the rights of local communities.
“The real damage to Goa’s image is not caused by peaceful citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest. It is caused by a Government driven by greed, promoting controversial projects, ignoring public sentiment and refusing to engage with those fighting to protect Goa’s identity. The BJP Government has tarnished Goa’s image through its arrogance, anti-people governance and betrayal of public trust,” he said.
Amarnath Panjikar asserted that democracy does not end at the doors of the BJP headquarters and that the right to peaceful protest is guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
“The BJP should stop vilifying citizens who are fighting for Goa. Instead of questioning the protesters, Damu Naik should ask why thousands of Goans have lost faith in the BJP Government and why people were compelled to seek justice in the national capital after more than 100 days of continuous protest. The people make Goa. The BJP does not own Goa. Those who stand up for Goa deserve respect, not slander,” Panjikar concluded.
