Panaji: Congress remains open to the idea of a “grand alliance” with other opposition parties as long as the other parties are sincere about defeating BJP, said AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Wednesday.Venugopal, who arrived in Goa for a meeting of the parliamentary public accounts committee, joined Congress’ Goy Rakhonn Yatra, where he called the Pramod Sawant-led govt the “most corrupt govt” in the country.“If all parties are sincere about defeating the BJP, then certainly, we are open,” said Venugopal when asked about the likelihood of a grand alliance of opposition parties.Attacking BJP, Venugopal said that since forming govt, BJP has put up a “Goa for sale” board.“This yatra is to protect Goa from BJP misrule. We want to take the views of the people of Goa, to take ideas that will benefit the people of Goa. The BJP govt is the most corrupt govt in the country. It is a chori govt. They have put a board in front of their office saying that Goa is for sale,” he said.He accused govt ministers of taking money from unemployed youth for jobs. “We need to give employment to the young generation of the state. We need to provide quality education to our boys and girls. We need to protect our democracy,” said Venugopal.RGP president Shavina Naik Shirodkar joined the Goy Rakhonn Yatra. “Govt always talks about double engine sarkar but has become a double corruption govt. Women are in danger, employment is in danger, our land is in danger. We are seeing Goa changing. Gen Z is aware of the present and is ready to fight for the future,” said Shirodkar.Congress’ Goy Rakhonn Yatra entered its second day on Wednesday, beginning from Banastarim and concluding at Old Goa.Freedom fighter Libia Lobo Sardesai joined the yatra. “We got freedom but now we have to protect it. We have forgotten Goa and now there are vultures coming to eat up Goa. I know people are eating up Goa. People are destroying Goa. All that I never imagined has happened, and for that, we are responsible. You can’t blame others,” said Sardesai.
