Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday flagged off a truck in Panjim carrying over one lakh signed letters addressed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant under the ‘BJP Che Burak’ campaign, marking a massive public outcry against the state’s crumbling roads. After the flag-off, AAP leaders drove the truck to the Goa Assembly and later submitted the letters at the Secretariat, demanding that the BJP government immediately repair Goa’s broken and potholed roads.
During this, AAP Goa In-charge Atishi, Goa President Amit Palekar, MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Goa State General Secretary Organisation Shrikrishna Parab, National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik, Goa State Vice Presidents Chetak Kamat and Sunil Signapurkar, Goa President (Youth Wing) Rohan Naik, Goa State Vice-President (Youth Wing) Salman Khan, and senior state leaders including Pujan Malvankar, John Fernandes, Sarfaraz Ankalgi, along with many volunteers, were present.
After flagging off the truck, Kejriwal said, “We all know that the condition of Goa’s roads is terrible. Whenever I meet people from Goa, they tell me how bad the roads are. Over the past three days, I have experienced it myself. One day, I travelled from Santa Cruz to Mapusa. The roads were so bad that it seemed there were no potholes in the roads, but rather roads in the potholes.”
He continued, “Another day, I travelled from Santa Cruz to Mayem. Instead of taking us on the actual route, they diverted us, adding one and a half hours, just to hide the real condition of the roads. When we returned by the original route, we saw how bad the roads really were. Across Goa, the situation is the same.”
Kejriwal alleged that citizens were even being intimidated for demanding basic repairs. “If any Goan demands their road be repaired, the ruling party’s people threaten, scare, or beat them up. People are not even allowed to demand their rights,” he said.
He added that AAP launched the campaign to amplify people’s voices. “This campaign is not just AAP’s — it is the demand of the people of Goa. Every day, accidents take place because of potholes. Even the Chief Minister admitted in the Assembly that numerous accidents happen due to them,” he said.
Kejriwal stressed that poor roads damage India’s global image. “Goa is the pride of our nation. Every tourist visits Goa after Delhi and Agra. When they see such terrible roads here, what do they think of our country? What happens to India’s image?” he asked.
He also accused the BJP government of corruption in road construction. “Every year, thousands of crores are spent on roads. Where does the money go? Within three months, the roads break again,” he remarked.
Concluding, Kejriwal appealed directly to the CM. “I demand that the Chief Minister listen to the people. Build the roads of Goa honestly and properly so that people can live a dignified life,” he said.
Later, Kejriwal posted on X, writing: “Goans have been suffering due to the terrible condition of roads under the BJP government. AAP launched a signature campaign to demand immediate repairs and the response was overwhelming. Out of 3.5 lakh families in Goa, 1 lakh signed the petition. Today, we flagged off the truck carrying these letters to the CM. This is not just a protest — it is the collective voice of Goans demanding accountability.”
Meanwhile, AAP Goa President Amit Palekar said, “For the past four Diwalis and four Chaturthis, the Chief Minister has been giving the same assurance. But we will not be fooled. We will follow up until roads are repaired.”
MLA Venzy Viegas added, “Several people have lost lives and many have been injured due to these roads. Just days ago, an ambulance overturned in Porvorim. Imagine an ambulance not being able to travel safely. The roads are putting lives at risk. We demand urgent action.”
MLA Cruz Silva said, “The CM and PWD Minister had promised roads would be repaired within 24 hours after Chaturthi, but nothing was done. People have lost faith in this government.”
AAP General Secretary Shrikrishna Parab said, “Today we submitted one lakh letters. This is just the beginning — we will continue until every pothole in Goa is repaired.”
