Digvijaya says Cong in Goa will go it alone in 2017 polls

PANAJI: While Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal, and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte - probably inspired by Bihar’s spectacular election results - have announced the formation of a third front, the state Congress party is not inclined to join forces.
Senior Congress leader and Goa desk in charge, Digvijaya Singh, on Tuesday reiterated that the party will go it alone in the 2017 assembly elections.
“The Congress is not part of any alliance whatsoever at the moment. It is currently preparing to contest in all 40 constituencies,” he said while addressing mediapersons in the city on Tuesday.
Singh was in Goa with All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Chella Kumar to speak with the local MLAs and discuss the party’s functioning.
The senior leader also criticized the BJP-led state government for its action against agitating students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The students, who have long been protesting the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairman, made their voices heard at the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) recently, too. Two agitating students were even arrested on the opening day of the festival. Singh refuted charges that state Congress leaders have not been vocal about the issue and that they hadn’t condemned police action against the students.
Replying to a question on special status, and non-fulfilment of the BJP’s promise, he said the Congress is with the people of Goa on the issue.
In his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh that all those who make provocative statements are in Modi’s cabinet. He further said that the Modi-led government has failed on several fronts: aid to agriculture, maintenance of communal harmony, foreign policies, relations with Nepal, and attracting investment from China and Japan.
“In its three-year rule, the BJP has proved to be a party of the landlord. The recent amendments effected in land legislations are against the interests of the common man,” Singh said.