Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 22: The attack on Congress workers on Saturday by BJP counterparts during a protest rally in Panaji was “pre-planned” and “government sponsored”, a senior party functionary said on Saturday.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar condemned the attack on his party workers on the street of Panaji by BJP claiming it as pre-planned move by Amit Shah led party to vent out their frustration.

“The physical attack on our leaders was pre-planned government sponsored attack as the mob had participation of officials attached to Chief Minister’s Office, Speaker’s Office and Cabinet Ministers,” Chodankar said addressing a press conference.

The Congress party held a joint meeting of GPCC and Congress Legislative Wing in Panaji on Saturday to take stock of the situation after the attack.

“It was a government sponsored attack which saw participation of two Ministers- Vishwajit Rane and Mauvin Godinho,” Chodankar said adding that there was Officer on Special Duty of Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Public Relation officer of Chief Minister amongst others in the protest.

Accusing police of siding with the BJP workers, Chodankar said that the police officers who were present at the site gave a free hand to BJP to assault Congress workers.

“They did nothing to clear the mob even as the commuters were put to hardship with traffic block for nearly two hours,” he said.

Chodankar said that the incident has exposed BJP’s ideology of violence.

“We follow Mahatma Gandhi’s Ideology while BJP is following that of Nathuram Godse. The ideology of violence is what they are known for,” he alleged.

The BJP on Friday had said that the clashes between workers of both the parties were instigated by Congress.