Mamata promises to make Goa a strong state

Panaji: Stating that ‘Delhi’s bullying’ in Goa must stop, West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that she wants Goa to be run from here and not from Delhi.

She said Trinamool Congress (TMC) wants to see Goa as a strong state like West Bengal and assured that her party will work in a strong manner to protect Goa’s culture and heritage.

Addressing the media in Dona Paula, Banerjee said Trinamool Congress (TMC) wants to see a smile on the faces of Goans and added that the people of Goa should feel a sense of pride because of their rich culture and heritage.

“I am not an outsider. I am not going to be the chief minister of Goa, but I want to see that there is a system, policies, federalism and a corruption-free government in the state,” Banerjee said and added that Goa is a beautiful state with everything like fishing, tourism, sea, mines, rich culture and heritage.

Stating that her agenda for Goa is extremely clear, Banerjee said she wants to bring in a perfect system to help the state. “Goa is beautiful but the BJP government has ruined it with its mismanagement. The BJP government has totally neglected the aspirations of Goans. Nobody is there to take care of the people of this beautiful state,” she said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said Goa is a ‘goldmine’ and it should be preserved for posterity. “We will form a mining policy for the resumption of the iron ore industry after coming to power. We will also see that tourism, fishing and other sectors are given a boost. I have met the fishermen community and during my next visit I will meet taxi owners and other people. After an interaction with the party workers and people of Goa, I strongly feel that there will be a change in the government in the state after the upcoming elections,” she said.

Stating that Delhi’s ‘dadagiri’ in Goa must stop, the TMC chief warned BJP and added that her party will help the people of Goa to elect their own government to be run by them. Taking on the saffron party, Banerjee said Goans are highly cultured people, but BJP’s culture is poor and that was why they indulged in defacing TMC’s banners and posters. “They have defaced our posters and showed black flags to me. But in the near future, the people of Goa and the country will deface BJP and blacklist them in the country,” she said.

Declining to declare TMC’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state assembly elections, Banerjee said that her party is open to welcoming those political parties that want to walk with TMC. “At this juncture, it is impossible for us to name the chief minister’s face because many people are continuously joining the TMC. We will announce the chief minister’s face for Goa at the right time and will be open to pre-poll alliance with like-minded parties depending on the situation in the near future,” she said.

Banerjee said she is a proud Hindu and did not want a character certificate from the BJP. She also said that she is an Indian and can go anywhere while claiming that if Bengal is her motherland, Goa is also her motherland.

Addressing her party workers earlier in the day, Banerjee said BJP is facing mental pressure and thus they are scared. “TMC stands for temple, mosque and church. We never divide people. We will die but never compromise on the unity of people. Trinamool Congress wants to see Goa as a strong state like Bengal and my party will work in a strong manner to protect its culture and heritage,” she said.

During her visit to the Betim jetty, the TMC chief promised the fishermen that her party will increase subsidy and said allowance of Rs 4,000 per month will be given to all men and women engaged in fishing activities. She also said a fishermen’s welfare board will be constituted and added that a ban will be sternly implemented on bull-trawling and LED fishing.

Later she visited the Mangueshi temple in Priol, Mahalasa Narayani temple in Mardol and Shree Datta Padmanabh Peeth at Tapobhoomi, Kundaim.

In the evening, she held an interaction with civil society members at Dona Paula.

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