Goa Is Not for Sale: Congress Vows to Defeat BJP’s Bid to Privatise Campal Sports Complex

Goa Kahabar: Stepping up its campaign against the BJP Government’s reported decision to lease the newly developed Campal Football Ground and Stadium Complex to a private operator, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) today warned that any attempt to privatise the iconic public sports facility would trigger a statewide mass agitation.

A Congress delegation led by GPCC Media & Communications Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, GPCC Spokesperson Adv. Amit Palekar, Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari, Youth Congress President Archit Naik, former Mayor Surendra Furtado, Mahila Congress President Pratiksha Khalap, Seva Dal Chief Rajan Ghate, along with Samil Volvoikar, Leonid Furtado, Babi Bagkar, Nitin Chopdekar, Savio Coutinho, Rajesh Verekar, Himanshu Tivrekar, Shaikh Hasan Mansoor, Naushad Chowdhary, Trevor Fernandes, Mangaldas Naik, Chandan Mandrekar, Gajanand Tilve, Yogesh Govekar, Francis Fernandes, Seby Menezes and hundreds of Congress office-bearers and workers, gheraoed officials of the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) and submitted a memorandum demanding the immediate withdrawal of the proposed lease.

The Congress asserted that the Campal Sports Complex, spread over nearly 40,000 square metres and built at a cost of around ₹30 crore from public funds, is a public asset created for the benefit of Goa’s youth and cannot be converted into a commercial venture.

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP Government, Adv. Amit Palekar alleged that the ruling dispensation has made a habit of handing over public assets to private interests.

“The BJP Government is systematically putting Goa on sale. Prime public properties are being sacrificed for commercial interests. If this continues, tomorrow even the Captain of Ports Terminal may be handed over to casinos. Now their eyes are on the Campal Ground. We will not allow Goa’s future to be auctioned.”

Questioning the Government’s silence, Palekar said the Sports Department, GSUDA, the Corporation of the City of Panaji and Smart City officials were all passing responsibility instead of answering the people.

“Everyone is passing the buck because nobody wants to own this anti-people decision. We will not allow the BJP to play football with the future of Goa’s youth.”

He further criticised the increasing commercialisation of public sports facilities, pointing out that the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium is increasingly being used for commercial events instead of promoting sports.

“When the Government has unlimited funds for publicity and mega events, why can’t it maintain a sports ground built with taxpayers’ money? Sports infrastructure exists for athletes—not for private profits.”

GPCC Media & Communications Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar said the BJP’s obsession with commissions and privatisation is steadily depriving young Goans of their rightful public infrastructure.

“Every public asset has become a business opportunity for the BJP. Goa’s playgrounds are not for contractors or private companies—they belong to the people. Congress will oppose every attempt to snatch away public sports facilities from our youth. If this proposal is not withdrawn, our agitation will only intensify.”

Youth Congress President Archit Naik accused the BJP Government of betraying the people of Goa.

“The BJP has perfected two businesses—buying MLAs and selling public assets. Instead of protecting what belongs to the people, they are auctioning Goa’s future. The youth of Goa will give them a fitting reply.”

Former Mayor Surendra Furtado demanded that the Campal Sports Complex be transferred to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) for professional management and that the facilities remain available free of cost for the residents of Panaji and neighbouring areas.

The Congress reiterated that public infrastructure created with taxpayers’ money cannot be handed over to private operators for commercial gain and warned that the people of Goa would unite to defeat any attempt to privatise the Campal Sports Complex.

“Goa is not for sale. Campal Ground is not for sale. Congress will fight shoulder to shoulder with the people until this anti-public decision is withdrawn,” the party declared.