Congress Slams Goverment’s Stadium Lease Move
Panjim:
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee has strongly condemned the BJP government’s decision to lease out the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, calling it a blatant betrayal of public trust and a reflection of the government’s anti-people and corrupt practices.
Amit Patkar, President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, criticized the move, highlighting that the stadium—constructed with public funds to promote sports and nurture Goan athletes—is being handed over to private entities instead of being utilized for the welfare of sportspersons. He questioned the BJP’s intentions, pointing out the irony of leasing out a stadium named after the founder of the RSS’s Jana Sangh. He warned that if the government can lease such a significant public asset, it raises concerns about the potential sale of Goa’s land, heritage, and natural resources to private interests.
Patkar further stated that the decision demonstrates the BJP government’s lack of vision for youth and sports development in Goa. Rather than investing in local talent and upgrading sports facilities, the government is allegedly auctioning state assets to benefit a few. Patkar accused the Sawant-led administration of acting like a real estate broker rather than a responsible government.
The Congress party has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision and called upon the people of Goa to unite to oppose what they describe as the systematic destruction of the state’s resources and identity.
“If this government is not stopped now, it won’t be long before they lease out Goa itself!” warned Patkar.
