In Goa, Kejriwal alleges nexus between Congress, BJP — ‘Some families have vice-like grip on politics here’

“The man sitting next to me on the flight said ‘Sir, this BJP and Congress are the same’. Dono ek hi hain. He said the state president of Congress in Goa…What’s his name? Amit Patkar. He said Patkar runs mines in the state. The person said without the blessings of the chief minister, the mining operations can’t be run. Without CM Pramod Sawant’s blessings, one cannot get licences or run mines. He said both [parties] are the same. Milke hi toh sabb kamate hein [All are looting together]. They claim different affiliations, one says he is from Congress, one says he is from BJP.  They are fooling the people. Saare ek hi hein,” Kejriwal said.

Responding to the remarks, Amit Patkar, President, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee wrote on X, “Mr. @ArvindKejriwal, as a former IRS officer and Ex Chief Minister, you should know that public statements must be based on facts – not on gossip overheard from a co-passenger on a flight. Repeating baseless rumours to defame me is irresponsible and unbecoming of your position. My family’s mining concessions leases existed for generations – much before you were even born – and were abolished by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in 2013”.

He further said: “I openly invite you to a public debate here in Goa during your 2-day visit. Let’s discuss facts, not fiction. Stop misleading Goans with gossip and show some basic decency before speaking about others”.

In his public address, the former Delhi chief minister said that for the past 60 years, only 13-14 families have maintained a “vice-like grip” on politics in Goa. “Earlier their grandfathers contested elections, then their sons and then their grandsons, now their wives…are contesting…where will the people of Goa go? They don’t fight elections for the people. They fight for their own families…to loot money. And it’s not just in one party. The Congress has families, BJP has families…sabb mein parivar hein,” Kejriwal said.

Appealing to the people to “change the system”, he said that all the major businesses, mines and lands are owned and run by “these families”.

“They get big contracts from the government, whether it is the BJP or the Congress. Whether the BJP is in the Opposition or the Congress, they run joint businesses. And when you [people] raise voice against this, you are beaten up and goons are sent to threaten you. This system has to be changed. In this election, change the system. Who should have the right over Goa’s resources? The people or these families? Goa has forests, rivers, mines…your children should benefit from these resources. Schools, hospitals and roads should be funded with these. Instead, these resources are looted and they take all the money in Swiss banks,” he said.

Kejriwal said he heard a rumour that Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is “preparing to field his wife as a candidate from Maem constituency”.

“They snatch away your land rights and then have the audacity to push his wife as a candidate. Will you vote for them? Goa has a population of 20 lakh, but they could only find his wife to contest from here. Goa ki koi aam mahila chunav kyun nahi lad sakti [Why can’t a commoner contest election]. When AAP contested, we chose Venzy [AAP MLA from Benaulim]. He is an aam aadmi [a commoner]. We did not choose someone’s son, father or uncle or wife. When they have to give tickets for elections, they choose their families. AAP will fight for your rights,” he said.

From the homepage

Amid internal strife in Naxal ranks, Amit Shah draws the red line: ‘What talks? Drop weapons or…’

Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah hospitalised in Srinagar

Hyderabad youth in US for Master’s degree shot dead at gas station, where he worked part-time