GFP and AAP slam Goa govt for asking staff to contribute money for Republic Day event

The district collector of South Goa asked government employees to contribute Rs 1,000 for an event to be organized on January 26. Political ruckus has started on this statement of the Collector. Opposition Goa Forward Party and Aam Aadmi Party have criticized this order. Seeing the increasing controversy over the matter, Collector Jyoti Kumari said that this is not a Republic Day programme.

Here, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijay Sardesai targeted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet, claiming that they have emptied the treasury and are now resorting to contributions for government works.

The circular issued on January 19 states, 'A program is being organized by the Collectorate of South Goa on January 26, 2023 at the Matanhi Saldanha Administrative Complex ground, which will be followed by the Republic Day celebrations. All interested government employees and officers should contribute Rs 1,000 to make this program a success.

The collector has also mentioned the names of two officers, who have been assigned the task of collecting money from the employees till January 20. Amidst the furore over this circular, GFP chief Sardesai said in a tweet, 'Is this contribution or extortion? Has the Goa government gone completely bankrupt for organizing a Republic Day function, extorting money from government employees? The Goa government and its cabinet have emptied the government treasury. And now we have to raise funds for the ceremony.

Aam Aadmi Party Goa president Amit Palekar tweeted, 'You have the world's money to waste on corrupt programs. But to celebrate Republic Day you want to collect money from government employees? be ashamed of.' However, on the controversy, the collector said that money is being collected to help child care institutions and old age homes.