Margao: Congress’s Goy Rakhonn Yatra entered South Goa on Sunday, with leader of opposition Yuri Alemao using a gathering at Shiroda to criticise BJP govt over the lack of employment opportunities for local youth. He said the shortage of jobs was forcing young people from Shiroda to travel to the distant Verna industrial estate for work.Earlier in the day, state Congress president Girish Chodankar told a news conference in Margao that the response to the yatra had exceeded the party’s expectations. “This shows the kind of anger against BJP govt,” he said.Chodankar also accused govt, particularly chief minister Pramod Sawant, of inciting people against Congress. “People were made to tear and bring down our banners, people were warned against participating in the yatra. This was unbecoming of a chief minister,” he said.Addressing the gathering, Alemao dismissed claims of rifts within the party, alleging that opponents were creating a false narrative about differences among Congress leaders in Goa. “I say that we are all together,” he said.He said Congress, as the principal opposition party, had decided to take the people of Goa along and course-correct wherever necessary. “We are open to suggestions. This yatra, though initiated by Congress, is a public movement,” Alemao said.
