Congress releases manifesto with 21 points, promises protecting identity of Goa

Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday released a manifesto for Lok Sabha election with 21 points ensuring to protect the environment and identity of Goa.

GPCC President Amit Patkar along with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLA Alton Dcosta, North Goa Candidate Adv. Ramakant Khalap and South Goa candidate Capt. Viriato Fernandes released the manifesto and said that the manifesto will be implemented no sooner INDIA bloc partners form a government.

“There is fear among people of the State that Goa is losing identity due to massive corruption, drug trade, prostitution and other things. But we promise you our both candidates will raise these issues in Lok Sabha and address them,” Patkar said.

Patkar said that protecting the environment, forest, wildlife and river Mhadei is very important. “BJP government has failed to protect these important things. They have even failed to create employment and to divert the attention from these key issues, they are saying they have constructed Highways. I allege that they have constructed highways for coal transportation and not in the interest of the state,” Patkar said.

“BJP has nothing to show, hence they are saying they have built a third bridge on Mandovi river. That means the other two bridges were not built by them. They can’t erase development works done by the Congress Party,” Patkar said.

He said that scrapping of Three Linear Projects and halting coal transportation will be their priority.

“We don’t want Goa to become a coal hub, our people residing in Mormugao taluka are suffering due to coal handling. We promise people of Goa that we will stop such polluting practices,” he said.

He said that BJP was responding to halt mining activities in Goa and has failed miserably to resume it despite promises. “But we ensure that immediate steps will be taken for resumption of legal mining,” he said.

He said that because of mining closure, many lost their jobs and businesses too. “We will create employment, so the local youths gets source of income,” he said.

Patkar said that as Goa is dependent on Tourism area, his party will see that the tourism industry is revived.

“We will protect the interest of seafarers and will continue the OCI facility till Dual Citizenship Rights are achieved by our people,” he said.

Patkar said that political reservation for Schedule Tribe is very important and hence this issue will be resolved.

“We will also take issue of reservation of education and jobs for ST, SC and OBC,” Patkar said.

Yuri Alemao said that BJP and crony capitalist are trying to ruin Goa. “Hence we all need to unite and protect our Goa. In past we have agitated against coal and further to we will oppose it,” Alemao said.

He said that unemployment in the state is increasing, which is fallout of failed policies of government.

Alemao said that there is need to save Dabolim airport, because we can’t trust BJP on this issue.