Panaji – It is the duty of every elected Government to give respect to the sportspersons & association for their contribution to the sporting field. Congress Government after coming to power in 2022 will ensure that only Sportspersons are appointed on all Sporting Bodies announced Congress President Girish Chodankar.
He was speaking during the induction of eminent sportsperson & international football player Alvito D’Cunha in the Congress Party. Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Working President Aleixo Sequeira, Vice President Sankalp Amonkar, South Goa District President Joe Dias, General Secretary Janardhan Bhandari, Youth Congress President Varad Mardolkar & other functionaries were were also present for the function.
Ace Footballer was welcomed in the Party by presenting him a Congress Jersey with his favourite 9 number by GPCC President Girish Chodankar, CLP Leader Digambar Kamat, Working President Aleixo Sequeira and others.
BJP Governments Sports Minister Manohar alias Babu Ajgaonkar has transformed the Sports Department into a Corruption Hub. It is sad that the corrupt Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar has kept on hold financial aid to the tune of more than Rs.1.5 Crores of various Sports Associations, Sportspersons living in Indigent Conditions as well as the Medal Winners for his greed of commission. The financial aids in some cases are pending since 2018. Congress Party gives an ultimatum of fifteen days to the government to clear all the pending dues, failing which we will expose the Sports Department giving detailed figures of all pending dues warned Girish Chodankar.
Former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar encouraged “Family Raj” of Sports Minister Manohar alias Babu Ajgaonkar. He appointed his brother Dr. Shrikant Ajgaonkar who has never pumped air in a football as Vice Chairman of Goa Football Development Council. The said Dr. Shrikant Ajgaonkar is also appointed as Director of Sports Authority of Goa. Incidentally, the Sports Ministers brother was a government employee working in ESI Dispensary. Eminent sportspersons like Alvito D’Cunha and others are sidelined by the BJP Government when it comes to appointments on various sports bodies Girish Chodankar said.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat had urged the Government way back in October 2019 to name a Stand at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as “Monte Cruz Stand” to recognise the efforts of former Sports Minister Francis Monte Cruz who worked tirelessly to ensure completion of the statdium in record seven months to host International Football Tournament. A resolution was also passed in the Assembly to that effect. Unfortunately, the Sports Minister & Chief Minister are not finding time to do the naming ceremony. This exposes the careless and disrespectful attitude of BJP government towards sportspersons.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat while welcoming Alvito D’Cunha in the Congress Party said that the talented footballer has remained loyal and dedicated to the game and the club he represented. He has always upheld his commitment. His entry in the Congress Party will strengthen the party in Goa.
Footballer Alvito D’Cunha said that he was happy to join the Congress Party. He said time has come to ensure that Goan sportspersons get enough encouragement and support in Goa itself. He appealed to the Congress Office bearers to ensure that the new Government of Congress in 2022 will give encouragement to sports & sportspersons in Goa including football. He said it is the need of the hour to defeat BJP and bring Congress to power.
GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar, District Congress President Joe Dias, Youth Congress President Varad Mardolkar, Balkrishna Hodarkar, Victor Gonsalves also spoke on the occasion and welcomed Alvito in the Congress Party. The function was compeered by Elvis Gomes.
Congress Social Media Incharge Himanshu Tivrekar, Archit Naik, Amit Patkar, Shaikh Ali and other Congress Functionaries were also present for the function.