Cong holds protests on second anniversary of MLA defections

Panaji/Margao/Calangute: Congress on Saturday held protests across Calangute, Old Goa, Margao, and Vasco to mark the second anniversary of the defection of eight Congress MLAs to BJP. The protest was held to draw attention to the defection two years ago when a group of legislators changed their allegiance and joined the ruling BJP.Led by state party president, Amit Patkar, Congress workers burnteffigies of the eight MLAs who defected. At Lohia Maidan, workers condemned the “betrayal” of the voters by the defectors. Patkar said, “Despite the MLAs deserting the party, the recent Lok Sabha election results proved that the voters remained loyal to Congress.”

He addedthat the doors of Congress have been “permanently closed” for the defectors who “robbed the people's mandate”.The MLAs who defected to BJP two years ago were, Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, his wife Delilah, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira, and Rudolfo Fernandes. Post the defection, Congress was left with only three MLAs in the state assembly; Yuri Alemao from Cuncolim, Carlos Ferreira from Aldona and Altone D'Costa from Quepem.

The leader of opposition, Alemao said that defection is a political and social crime, adding, “BJP is promoting it (defections) to usurp powers. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has failed to dispose of the disqualification petition in 90 days; it seems he is waiting for the completion of 900 days. We condemn the BJP strategy of promoting defection,” he said.Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira accused the MLAs of acting in their personal interests rather than for the development of their constituencies. Patkar said that some of the MLAs who defected have been allegedly involved in converting land along with BJP functionaries for their own benefit, contributing to the destruction of Goa’s precious green land.


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