BJP Govt on backfoot, curtails session to avoid exposure : Congress

Goa Khabar : In a scathing attack, senior Congress leaders on Tuesday accused the BJP Government of curtailing the Assembly session out of fear of being exposed by the Opposition.

They alleged that the Chief Minister used the pretext of the Code of Conduct for the Ponda by-election to cut short proceedings, thereby denying Goans their right to accountability.

Addressing a press conference at Congress House, GPCC Vice Presidents Tulio D’Souza and Sunil Kawthankar said the Government was unable to face the Opposition’s grilling.

“By curtailing the session, the Government has deprived the people of Goa. Our MLAs were raising issues of public concern, but this corrupt Government chose to silence debate. LoP Yuri Alemao, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, and Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira exposed them thoroughly,” Kawthankar said.

He pointed out that while by-elections are underway in Maharashtra and Karnataka, their Assemblies have not been curtailed. “If Bills were introduced, BJP’s loot through Section 39A would have been stopped. Hence, they curtailed the session and passed the budget illegally,” he charged.

Kawthankar further highlighted the denial of reservation for OBC students in postgraduate medical seats at Goa Medical College and Dental College. “The Government is not keen to give OBCs their rightful share,” he said, praising the LoP’s stand.

He also dismissed the Chief Minister’s claims on Goa’s Happiness Index. “People are frustrated, youth are jobless. The reality is a rising frustration index, not happiness,” Kawthankar stated.

He revealed that the Government has spent ₹677 crore on events since 2022, including ₹13 crore on the Viksit Goa, Viksit Bharat program—amounting to ₹22 lakh per minute.

Tulio D’Souza said the Government has failed on all fronts, especially financial management. “Goa’s debt has crossed ₹35,312 crore as of January 2026, with no plan for redemption. The FRBM guidelines mandate that debt should not exceed 22–25% of GSDP, but Goa’s ratio has touched 34–35%. This is disastrous for the state’s economy,” he warned.

He reiterated the Opposition’s demand to scrap aggregator guidelines and protect the interests of traditional taxi owners.

“They are our ambassadors, and their livelihood must be safeguarded,” D’Souza said.