Panaji, 17 August 2025 — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa on Sunday launched a scathing protest in the capital under its new campaign #BJPCheBurak, accusing the BJP-led government of turning Goa’s roads into death traps.
As part of the demonstration, AAP leaders sat inside potholes and planted BJP flags in them, declaring that every crater across Goa is the BJP’s “real legacy.” The protest briefly paused when an ambulance carrying a patient passed by, starkly underlining the dangers bad roads pose to public safety.
AAP Goa President Adv. Amit Palekar said the campaign was a response to the government’s failure despite spending huge sums of money. “Fourteen hundred crore rupees have been spent, and the capital city is still filled with potholes. Some of these craters can swallow a scooter. So we decided to plant BJP flags in them — because every pothole in Goa belongs to the BJP,” he said.
Palekar alleged the Public Works Department (PWD) only acts after AAP highlights issues. “There is no accountability, no shame. Work starts only when AAP points out the potholes. As a service to their incompetence, we sat on potholes ourselves to show them where repairs are pending,” he added. He further stated that AAP’s newly launched pothole helpline has already been flooded with complaints, which will be compiled and submitted to the government.
AAP General Secretary (Organisation) Shrikrishna Parab ridiculed the government’s “fake dashboards.” “The PWD app claims 548 pothole complaints received and 100% resolved. That’s a joke. Anyone who steps outside can see the truth. The government is not only incompetent, but also blatantly dishonest,” he said.
AAP Working President Rajesh Kalgantukar accused the BJP of systemic misgovernance: “Not just roads, every department under BJP is full of buraks. Even the treasury has holes — nobody knows where taxpayers’ money is going. Potholes reappear in just 15 days, yet contractors and engineers face no punishment. This is the BJP model,” he alleged.
Vice President Sunil Singnapurkar targeted corruption in road contracts: “Three months ago, tenders for pre-monsoon works were issued. Within days of repair, potholes came back. Now post-monsoon tenders are being handed to the same failed contractors. Instead of penalising failure, BJP rewards it. If they are serious, they should seize deposits and hold engineers accountable,” he said.
With the campaign, AAP has vowed to continue exposing what it calls the BJP government’s negligence and corruption, taking the fight to every corner of Goa.
