Panaji: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its jibe at the Congress on defections in Goa, saying the Arvind Kejriwal-led party was “twice as shameless” as the BJP.
During a press conference in Panaji, responding to a question about AAP blaming the Congress over defections, Khera said, “Those whose own party has seen six or seven MPs leave and go to the Rajya Sabha on the BJP’s support are lecturing us about defections.”
“What remarkable people they are (AAP). I used to think the Modi-led party was shameless, but they have turned out to be twice as shameless,” he said.
Khera’s statement came hours after AAP accused the Congress of having a joint venture with the BJP to help the latter form the government in the state through defections.
“Leave them aside; let’s not talk about them,” Khera said, referring to AAP.
“As I told you, people here want everyone to come together. The Goa Forward Party has also made a good point. We agree that everyone should fight together and that there should be a Grand Alliance,” he said.
Khera also hinted at an alliance with like-minded opposition parties, claiming that everyone should fight together and that there should be a Grand Alliance.
“There is discussion on this. We will listen to the people of Goa,” Khera said.
Criticising the BJP-led government in the state, Khera accused it of “taking away” Goa’s forests, rivers, coastline and employment opportunities over the past 15 years, and alleged that it had failed to protect the interests of Goans.
“The government has taken things away from Goa,” Khera said, alleging that forest cover had declined and that changes to the Regional Plan were being made without adequate consultation with the people.
He also raised concerns over unemployment, saying Goa’s unemployment rate was around 8.5 per cent, according to figures he cited, and alleged that the government had failed to create sufficient opportunities for the state’s youth.
“Goa’s youth have the capability, but there are no opportunities,” he said.
Khera also accused the government of failing to tackle the availability of drugs and alleged that casinos were being given permissions without adequate regulation.
“Goa has been given drugs, unregulated casinos, and a kind of development where destruction is visible but development is not,” he alleged.
The Congress leader also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that 1,27,468 voters had been removed from the 2026 electoral roll in Goa.
He described the exercise as an attempt to take away what he called the voter’s “last weapon” and alleged that the process was part of a wider conspiracy against voters.
Khera also questioned the absence of women in the Goa Cabinet and said the Congress had historically fought for women’s reservation.
On the Congress’ Goy Rakhon Yatra, Khera said the campaign had emerged as a model that the party was considering replicating in other states.
He said the yatra was allowing Congress workers to engage directly with people and discuss issues including the environment, employment, land and development.
Khera also criticised the state government’s handling of law and order, alleging that incidents of murder, rape, kidnapping, assault, burglary and theft had increased.
He urged the media to place the government’s performance before voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
“Save Goa, save the Constitution and save democracy,” Khera said.
