PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of hypocrisy and double standards over the incident involving Pakistani flags painted on roads in Canacona.
In a strongly worded statement, GPCC Media Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar criticized BJP leader Giriraj Pai Vernekar for targeting Congress leader Sunil Kawthankar, who had condemned the act and demanded strict action. Panjikar stated that instead of supporting national sentiment, the BJP chose to attack a leader who spoke up against the display of anti-national symbols.
“What is shocking is that BJP leaders tried to twist the narrative and divert attention from the real issue. But now, the truth is out,” Panjikar said, referring to BJP MLA and Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, who has himself filed a police complaint against the unknown individuals responsible for painting the Pakistani flags.
“This only reaffirms that Sunil Kawthankar was right in demanding action,” he added.
Panjikar posed several pointed questions to the BJP:
- Will Giriraj Pai Vernekar now use the same language against his own party MLA?
- Was the BJP trying to defend an anti-national act for political mileage?
- Why was the party silent when the incident first came to light?
- Does the BJP hesitate to act when national concerns are raised by Congress?
Calling the BJP’s stance a “betrayal of national interest,” Panjikar demanded a public apology from Vernekar and the BJP for what he called a baseless and slanderous attack on Kawthankar.
“Congress will always stand for India’s honour, unlike the BJP’s selective outrage and political convenience,” Panjikar asserted.
