VASCO: Stating that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is ready to cooperate with all secular forces in the state to defeat the “communal” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forthcoming assembly election, its Goa desk in-charge and former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Sunday however indicated that the party is also prepared to contest the election on its own.
Patel, who is on a state visit, was addressing workers convention organised by NCP’s Vasco block at Vidhyadhiraj Hall in Vasco in the presence of its Goa unit president Jose Philip D’Souza, Kerala Transport Minister A K Saseendran, NCP Kerala unit president Uzhavoor Vijayan, senior leader of NCP Nawab Mallik, Football Federation of Sri Lanka president Anura de Silva and others on the dais.
Patel said, “Defeating BJP is not only the responsibility of NCP but all like-minded people, and the parties should become united in this cause.”
Claiming that the BJP had made huge promises to the people ahead of 2012 assembly elections, he said that none of them have been fulfilled. He raised serious concern over the “dyeing” economy of the state due to the closure of mining industry and slowdown in tourism industry.
Announcing that the NCP state unit president D’Souza will be party candidate in Vasco constituency, Patel said that the NCP has already started campaigning and that the names of other candidates will be announced shortly.
Kerala Transport Minister Saseendran said that the deliberations are going on with other secular parties in Goa to form pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming assembly elections. He accused BJP of trying to destroy democratic rights of people. He said that the NCP is committed to protect secular fabric and give people their democratic rights and appealed the secular-minded political parties to support NCP in its mission to defeat BJP.
Senior leader of NCP Mallik alleged that the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar holds charge of Chief Minister of Goa while Laxmikant Parsekar is just a dummy Chief Minister. He also alleged that the BJP-led government in the state has failed to fulfill the promises given to the people during its four and half year regime.
NCP state unit president D’Souza stressed that the alliance with secular parties is the need of the hour. He urged the political parties in the state not to divide the secular votes and keep them intact by forming an alliance. He raised serious concern over the non-commissioning of 5000 cubic metre reservoir constructed at INS Gomantak during his tenure. He however criticised the local legislator for not making any provision before shifting the government offices from the Mormugao municipal building.
NCP Goa desk in-charge Patel on the occasion handed over appointment letters to Abhjit Dhargalkar who is appointed as NCP North Goa president, Pritam Naik as NCP Vasco Block Youth Committee president and Bhola Ghadi as the vice president of NCP state unit. The programme was compered by Mario Pereira.
Meanwhile, Patel said that the NCP fully backs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre on its stand on thwarting terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He strongly condemned the recent terror attack at Uri which claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers. He said that India should give a strong reply to Pakistan and ensure that terror attacks and infiltration are stopped.