Panaji: Four Congress leaders from Goa on Thursday tendered their resignation from the party membership protesting against its party’s stand on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Panaji Congress block committee President Prasad Amonkar, North Goa minority cell chief Javed Sheikh, Block committee secretary Dinesh Kubal and former youth leader Shivraj Tarkar, resigned from the party, accusing Congress of trying to mislead public, especially minorities, on new Citizenship Act.
Talking to reporters, Amonkar said that they do not sync with Congress party stand on CAA and NRC. “We oppose the wrong stand taken by Congress on CAA and NRC. As a opposition, we need to be critical and not just oppose something for the sake of opposition. The citizenship Act needs to be welcomed,” he said.
Congress party should stop misleading people and creating fear in the minds of minorities for political mileage, Amonkar said.
“We all were part of Congress protest on CAA and NRC, held last week. But, we realized that through their speeches, the leaders, were trying to create fear in the minds of minorities. This is not right. Our state is peace loving State and Congress is trying to instigate minorities,” he said.
The CAA has been enacted through a democratic process and gives citizenship to refugees who have had centuries of cultural affinity with Indian ethos, he added.
“CAA categorically addresses concerns of minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Members of the majority community in these countries, who want to apply for Indian citizenship will still be able to, as per the existing provisions of Indian citizenship,” Amonkar said.
Congress party has been opposing CAA and NRC terming it as unconstitutional.
