Panaji: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused Goa Congress chief Amit Patkar of running the mining business with the blessings of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Kejriwal was addressing a public meeting at Mayem constituency in North Goa in the presence of Delhi Leader of Opposition Atishi Marlena, Goa Unit President Amit Palekar, and others. The AAP leader also inaugurated the office of AAP leader Shrikrishna Parab in Mayem constituency.
Narrating his discussion with a fellow passenger on the flight while arriving in Goa last night, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that he was told that GPCC President Amit Patkar owns mines in Goa.
“That cannot happen (one cannot own a mine) without the blessings of the Chief Minister. Both are together. They just claim to have different political affiliations, one is Congress and another is BJP,” he said.
Speaking further, Kejriwal said that during the last 60 years, only 13-14 families have maintained a grip over politics in Goa. “Their grandfather was contesting, then their son and now their grandson is contesting the election,” he said, adding that they don’t contest elections for the sake of the people but for their own benefits.
He said that these families are not just in one party, BJP, but also in Congress.
“Even major businesses, contracts, and big parcels of land are with them,” he added.
Kejriwal said that the time is ripe to change the system so that the people have the right over their resources.
The ex-Delhi Chief Minister arrived in Goa on Friday evening on his three-day trip to the state.
