PANAJI
Stating that the eight Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP betrayed the voters, concerned citizens staged a protest against the defectors and urged people to boycott them.
The citizens also urged the voters of the respective constituencies to hold protests in front of the residence of the eight MLAs who switched to the BJP.
Speaking at the protest meeting, former Margao Municipal Council chairperson Savio Coutinho said that the defection is treachery on the Goan electorate by the defectors.
“They even made a mockery of Gods to fool the voters and now they are claiming that they went for development when in fact it is to fulfil their selfish motives. They cannot deny that they have not gained from the move,” Coutinho stated and urged the voters of the respective constituencies to stage protests in front of the residences of the MLAs who have defected. “The people should also boycott these MLAs in the remaining term” he urged.
Stating that the defection is a murder of democracy, activist Shankar Polgi said that the BJP government does not want anybody to question it, which is why they have bought these MLAs.
“In a democracy, an Opposition plays an important role in keeping a tab on the wrongdoings of the MLAs. But sadly, by buying the MLAs, the BJP has ensured that there is no Opposition to question it,” Polgi stated while condemning the MLAs for saying that they have gone for development.
“What sort of development they are talking about? Development at the cost of the environment, at the cost of nature, at the cost of the livelihood of the people? Then, we do not want this type of development,” Polgi informed.
Cecille Rodrigues blamed the voters for electing such types of people time and again and urged them to be vigilant in the future.
“People should not forget the betrayal of these MLAs and should teach them a lesson in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well as the 2027 Assembly polls,” Rodrigues urged while criticising the BJP government for buying MLAs from other parties.
“The BJP wants to bring in a dictatorship which is why they are buying MLAs from other parties,” she alleged.
Activist Mahesh Naik from Margao said the MLAs can fool the voters but they cannot fool God who will definitely punish them for the mockery.
John Nazareth said that Goans are known the world over for being honest people. “But these politicians have brought Goans a bad name by their dishonest deeds. Now, the Goans have to start a movement against defection so that such acts are not repeated in the future,” Nazareth said.
Azim Shaikh, Ana Gracias, Tanoj Adwalpalkar and others spoke on the occasion.
