Prominent ST leader Satyavan Gaonkar joins Congress

Goa Khabar : In a significant boost to the Congress Party in South Goa, prominent Scheduled Tribe (ST) leader Satyavan Gaonkar from Sanguem, along with his wife Neeta Gaonkar and hundreds of supporters, formally joined the Indian National Congress at a function held at the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Headquarters in Panaji on Wednesday.

The induction ceremony was held in the presence of AICC Goa In-Charge Manickrao Thakare, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Working Presidents Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Sunil Kawthankar, South Goa District Congress President Rajesh Verekar, Media & Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, OBC Department Chairman Sharad Chopdekar, Goa Youth Congress President Archit Naik, Sanguem Block Congress President Diago Fernandes, senior Congress leader Rajanikant Naik, Caitano Martins, Jeetendra Naik, and other party leaders.

Among those who joined the Congress along with Satyavan Gaonkar were Vishal Naik, Prajok Kurdikar, Francis Fernandes, Putu Gaonkar, Milan Gaonkar, Tanvi Gaonkar, Ruzarian Carvalho, Alex Fernandes, Sanjana Dessai, Anish Gaonkar, Sangam Gaonkar, Krish Gaonkar, Abhay Gaonkar, Vikrant Gaonkar, Pooja Gaonkar, Laxmi Gaonkar, Sanjana Gaonkar, Rupali Naik, besides hundreds of supporters from Sanguem and adjoining areas.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Sanguem Block Congress President Diago Fernandes. The membership forms of the new entrants were formally accepted by GPCC President Girish Chodankar and District President Rajesh Verekar. AICC In-Charge Manickrao Thakare welcomed Satyavan and Neeta Gaonkar by draping them with the Congress shawl, while Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira presented them with the Congress flag, symbolising their induction into the party.

Addressing the gathering, AICC In-Charge Manickrao Thakare lauded the vision and commitment of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi towards the welfare and empowerment of the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. He said the Congress Party has consistently respected the identity of the Scheduled Tribe community by recognising them as Adivasis and has always fought to safeguard their constitutional rights and dignity.

Thakare alleged that the BJP prefers the term “Vanvasi” instead of “Adivasi”, reflecting its reluctance to accord the community its rightful recognition. He assured that the Congress Party remains committed to empowering leaders from the Scheduled Tribe community and said capable leaders like Satyavan Gaonkar would be entrusted with greater organisational responsibilities to strengthen the party and effectively serve the interests of the Adivasi community.

Welcoming the new entrants, GPCC President Girish Chodankar said the induction of Satyavan Gaonkar and his large team of supporters would significantly strengthen the Congress organisation at the grassroots level in the Sanguem Assembly Constituency. He described the development as a major step towards expanding the party’s presence across the tribal belt of Goa.

Chodankar challenged the BJP Government to explain why it had failed to provide the statutory allocation of ₹3,200 crore under the Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan and why it continued to deny the Scheduled Tribe community its rightful benefits. Reiterating his earlier stand, he said the BJP had never been serious about granting political reservation to the Scheduled Tribe community in the Goa Legislative Assembly. “I had earlier stated that the BJP would never provide Assembly reservation to the Scheduled Tribe community, and today that prediction has proved true. The BJP has no intention of ensuring genuine political representation for the Scheduled Tribe community. It only remembers various communities during elections and uses them as vote banks,” Chodankar said.

The programme was compered by GPCC Media & Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, while senior Congress leader Rajanikant Naik proposed the vote of thanks.