Goa Pradesh Congress met with the protesting Anganwadi workers at Azad Maidan to hear their grievances. Speaking to media, GPCC Chief, Amit Patkar appealed to the Government and Women and Child Minsiter Vishwajit Rane to reinstate them at the earliest. He mentioned that the Chief Minister has said that the file is with the Minister and it is clear there is a ‘war between both departments.’
He lashed out at Rane and the Government for indulging in vindictive politics. “Why differential treatment between party supporters and the rest? We are not heading in the right direction. It is clear that Government is into vindictive politics and targeting people. He played a stunt by filing FIR only in one location. Why not across Goa? Why has there been no FIR been registered in Vagueri case? I would like to remind the Government that it is for the entire public and not only for their party voters,” he said.
He alleged that the protesting anganwadi workers were illegally terminated. It is surprising, he noted in one case, where the worker is from Curchorem, the reason for termination was the alliance to a union leader, who is a Congress leader. “She has never campaigned for me. She was never involved, so why target her?’ he questioned.
He added that instead of spending money on the new Raj Bhavan, and the plans to lay a 8000 crore township, possibly in Ponda, Patkar asked the Women and Child Minister to ‘solve issue in his department first. “Today people don’t have water, electricity. The Government has no funds to pay social welfare amounts and to fulfill the rightful demands of anganwadi workers. We are taking loans since we are in debt. But we have money to build the New Raj Bhavan,” he said.
Later, the Congress delegation met with the police to assure protection to the protesting women. “PI promised to cooperate full for safety of women and will put personnel here.” Earlier, the police had asked them to vacate. The police asked the group to get the required permissions to sit at the Azad Maidan.