CONGRESS WORKERS STOP ISL PLAYERS BUS AT NAGOA, DEMAND CONTRACT TO LOCALS
MARGAO: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and Youth Congress members confronted ISL officials and blocked their bus at Nagoa playground on the issue of giving businesses to outsiders. They demanded that the organisers should provide business to locals by hiring their taxis and buses.
Last week the Congress Party had threatened to disrupt Indian Super League (ISL) matches if all contracts given to outsiders are not terminated within next four days.
On Wednesday, the Congress members and YC activists stopped a coach bearing registration number from other State and ferrying players of one of the ISL teams Mumbai FC near Nagoa-Verna playground and demanded that the contract be given to locals.
The protestors did not allow players to alight from the UP registered bus for the training session along with other taxis from other States carrying coach and team officials were also stopped
They sent the bus back by shouting slogans ” Go back “, we want business for Goans.”
Following an assurance by the management to discuss the issue tomorrow (November 19) regarding the business to locals the Congress workers agreed to leave the venue
The Congress delegation will meet the ISL management on Thursday, November 19 evening to discuss the issue, informed Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Vice President Sankalp Amonkar.
Amonkar alleged that all contracts of providing transport, security, lighting and sound system etc were given to non-Goan companies even as Goan businessmen suffered badly due to COVID pandemic.
Amonkar said that many unemployed Goan youth had invested their money and purchased vehicles and other equipments hoping that they will get contracts since the ISL tournament was started six years ago.
Besides, Amonkar, the protestors were led by GPCC general secretaries Amarnath Panajikar and Janardhan Bhandari and Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president Varad Mardolkar.
This year all the ISL matches will be played at three different venues in Goa from November 20, behind closed doors.