Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on the second day of his three-day Goa tour, delivered an uncompromising assessment of the state’s governance after meeting taxi drivers at the Mobor–Cavelossim taxi stand and addressing a public gathering in support of Zilla Panchayat (ZP) candidate James Fernandes in Xeldem.
Corruption over the past thirteen years
The AAP Chief said the BJP has turned Goa into a hub of corruption over the past thirteen years, adding that CM Pramod Sawant now presides over a “hafta-vasooli sarkar,” where protection money even flowed from the Arpora nightclub that claimed 25 lives. During this public meeting, AAP Goa Incharge Atishi, State President Amit Palekar, MLA Venzy Viegas, Working President Gerson Gomes and General Secretary (Campaign) Sandesh Teleikar Dessai, as the leadership came together to strengthen AAP’s vision for a corruption-free and people-first Goa.
Addressing a massive crowd, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal statedI always say that when God created the Earth, the most beautiful country he created was India. And when God created India, the most beautiful place in India that He created was Goa. Goa is perhaps the most beautiful place not just in India but on Earth.” Pointing to Goa’s global appeal, Arvind Kejriwal said, “People from all over the world come to see Goa. Tourists come from across the globe to visit Goa. Goa was famous worldwide for its beauty. But in the last 10 to 13 years, ever since the BJP government took over, Goa has become famous across the world for corruption. Goa is now known across the world for the Arpora incident. In the last 13 years, the BJP has turned Goa into a hub of corruption. For the past 13 years, the BJP has been draining Goa.
He continued, “In the last 13 years, all of you gave a lot of votes to the BJP and made them win. But I want to ask you, what did they give you? Did the BJP build schools for your children? Did they build hospitals for your families, build roads, provide water, electricity, make electricity cheaper, or do anything at all? In 13 years, the BJP has done only corruption. 25 people died in the Arpora nightclub. Who is responsible?” Highlighting illegal operations at the nightclub, the AAP Chief added, “The Arpora nightclub was openly running in full public view. It did not even have an occupancy certificate. It was operating illegally. It had no trade licence, no excise licence, no building permissions. Without building permission, how did it get an electricity connection? How did it get a water connection? A year ago, the local panchayat issued a demolition order, yet it continued to operate. Why? Because they paid ‘hafta’ (protection money) to the BJP government.”
I have spoken
Calling out the administration, he further said, “I have spoken to many people. It is not possible that the Pramod Sawant government did not know that such a nightclub was operating. But the owners bribed officials, MLAs, and ministers. They paid weekly bribes. Pramod Sawant’s government is a ‘hafta-vasooli’ government. It was not the only nightclub. There are countless such establishments running in Goa where any of your family members could die tomorrow. This ‘hafta-vasooli’ government is playing with your lives.
Challenging the government’s integrity, Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Tell me one illegal activity that cannot be done in Goa by paying money. Everything is possible in Goa with this corrupt BJP government. You can do anything by paying money. The owners of the Arpora club fled the country overnight. They were allowed to escape. Name one legal activity that an honest person can get done without paying money, even if he is doing everything lawfully.”
He noted, “We are sitting in a market today. There are so many small shopkeepers here. If you are a small businessperson or shopkeeper and need an electricity connection, a water connection, have purchased land and need registration, need a building plan passed, name one single activity in the government that can happen without paying money. Can it be done? Not a single thing can be done without paying money in this government.
Issuing a direct challenge, the AAP Supremo said, “Let Pramod Sawant name one activity in the Goa government that can be done without paying bribes. I think this is perhaps the most corrupt government. The least the Chief Minister can do is apologise to the people of Goa for the Arpora incident. He must ensure safety in all establishments and ensure the safety of Goans.” Pointing to the condition of roads, he added, “Recently, the Aam Aadmi Party launched a campaign against BJP because the condition of roads is extremely bad. We went door to door asking people if they were happy with Goa’s roads. I have been here since last night and have travelled across Goa. The roads are so bad. In many states, there are potholes on roads. Here, there are roads inside potholes. Nowhere in India are the roads as bad as they are in Goa. How? Thousands of crore rupees are spent.” Describing citizens’ response, Arvind Kejriwal said, “During our campaign, one lakh families signed the signature petition demanding road repairs. The total population of Goa is 15 lakh. One lakh families signed demanding that the roads be fixed. The condition of Goa’s roads is terrible.”
Must search on Google
Drawing a comparison with Punjab, he continued, “Punjab has an AAP government. You must search on Google, ‘new roads in Punjab’. Right now, 43,000 km of roads are being constructed in Punjab. I am an engineer from IIT. I know how to work. I don’t know how to do politics. Ask me to build schools, hospitals, roads, water systems, electricity systems: we did it in Delhi and in Punjab. I know how to do that. I do not know how to do dirty politics like these people. Forty-three thousand kilometres of world-class roads are being constructed in Punjab. Fantastic roads. So it’s not that it cannot be done. It can be done. Their intent is bad. Their intention is corrupt.” Pointing to fear among citizens, he added, “During the campaign, when we went door to door to collect signatures, some people were afraid to sign. They said, ‘Sir, the road is very bad, but we won’t sign.’ We asked why. They said the local MLA would beat them, threaten their family. In BJP’s government, people are scared to even say their roads are bad. There is ‘Gunda Raj’ in Goa. People are being threatened.”
Describing intimidation of AAP workers, Arvind Kejriwal said, “One day, when our workers were going door to door, the local MLA’s goons threatened them, saying if they came again, they would be harmed. But the AAP is not afraid of anyone. All our leaders went there the next day and collected everyone’s signatures. You will have to stand up against this goonda raj. Otherwise, they will keep threatening you. The more you bow, the more they will scare you.” Recalling a recent threat, he added, “Yesterday, I learned that a woman simply stood on the road and spoke to one of our candidates. The local MLA’s office called her husband and said, ‘Your wife is talking to an AAP candidate, beware. He will be thrown out of his job. Does Goa belong to someone’s father that you will throw people out of their jobs? Who owns Goa? Does Goa belong to the BJP or Goans? They act as if this state is their personal property and they will remove anyone from their job.” Criticising the climate of fear, the AAP Chief asserted, “Will all of you live in fear like this? How long will you keep living in fear? You will have to stand up. You will have to raise your voice. The more you allow them to suppress you, the more they will suppress you. The more you fear them, the more they will frighten you. They have created goondaism all around. Only the AAP is an honest party. It is the party of decent people. It is a good party that delivers development. I know you will say I am promoting my own party, but, ‘the proof of the pudding lies in its eating.’”
Arvind Kejriwal said
Recalling the previous mandate, Arvind Kejriwal said, “Last time, you elected our two MLAs, Venzy Veigas and Cruz Silva. Even though I am not in their constituency today, I speak to many people and many of you must know both of them. I challenge Pramod Sawant today. Tell me if either of our MLAs or any staff member in their office has ever asked for even one rupee from anyone for any work.” Did Venzy Veigas ever ask anyone for money? Did any of his staff ask anyone for money? Did Cruz Silva ever ask for money? They have completed so many development works in their constituency using MLA Development Fund and government funds. If even one contractor steps forward to say they asked for a cut, show me. They never asked for even one rupee. They are extremely honest MLAs who are famous all over Goa,” he emphasised. Calling out corruption elsewhere, Arvind Kejriwal continued, “In Goa, if someone becomes an MLA, within five years their land, bungalows and luxury cars increase. I do not think Venzy Veigas has purchased anything in the last five years, he is a very useless MLA for such people because our MLAs are fiercely honest. I challenge anyone to say our MLAs threatened someone. Did they ever intimidate anyone saying if you do this, I will do that? What do our MLAs actually do? They have opened clinics in their offices for the public. They give free medicines to you. They arrange doctors for you. They serve you. They conduct free medical tests. More than 2,500 patients have visited each of their clinics. This is the work our MLAs do.”