Cong uses Goyal's 'mini-Portugal' comment to attack Goa CM

Panaji, Feb 20 (IANS) Union Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's comment last week about creating a "mini-Portugal" in Goa, made at a business conclave in Mumbai attended by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has now found political currency.

The state Congress on Thursday juxtaposed the comment made by Goyal, who rooted for increased business and tourism collaboration between Goa and her former coloniser, Portugal, to claim that the BJP, especially Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, was being a hypocrite vis-a-vis the state's relations with Portugal.

"As Speaker Sawant used to rant against those who say 'Viva Portugal', saying such people should go to Portugal. Then as CM, he accords a state welcome to the Portuguese President last week and signs several MoUs with Portuguese officials," Congress spokesperson Trajano D'Mello said.

"Then a day after the Portuguese President leaves, he slams Portugal for atrocities. We need to know which is the real face of the BJP vis-a-vis Goa's relationship with Portugal? The CM's rant or Piyush Goyal's ambition to create a mini-Portugal in Goa?" D'Mello said.

The Congress spokesperson also said that either Goyal, as a Central Minister, should stop interfering in matters related to Goa, or Sawant should admit that he has no control over the direction which the state government should take.

Addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) meet in Mumbai on February 15, Goyal was quoted as saying: "I believe if we were to work together to create a mini-Portugal in Goa, we could truly make it a preferred destination for visitors from around the world."