BJP draws flak for at-home lunch photo opportunities in Goa

They should get their children married in ST families: Congress MLA

The Congress on Wednesday attacked senior BJP leaders for having lunch at the homes of Scheduled Tribe(ST) families and flashing these pictures in media. Former Chief Minister and senior Congress MLA Ravi Naik said it was a farce. Instead, if BJP leaders got their sons and daughters married to members of the ST community, he would salute them, he added.

Speaking to presspersons at the State Secretariat, Mr. Naik observed that most homes of ST families in Goa were furnished with tables and chairs, and they no more sit on the floor for meals. Therefore, to sit on the floor for a meal, as BJP Ministers, MPs and MLAs did over the last one week as part of BJP’s plan nationwide to reach out to members of the marginalised sections of society, was a nothing but a gimmick.

Media splash

Photos of North Goa MP and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik, South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar along with Union Ministers and State party president Vinay Tendulkar have been published in the local media, partaking meals at homes of ST families, sitting on the floor.

“I feel that they should get their educated sons and daughters married to educated sons and daughters of (STs). Then they will able to eat ST cuisine throughout their lives. If they do this I will salute all BJP leaders,” Mr. Naik said in reference to the recent events of Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre having lunch at an ST family’s home here along with Goa MPS and others.

“Why are they (BJP leaders) sitting on the floor. Their (of the ST communities) economic circumstances have improved. Do they want them (ST community) to go back to sitting on floor again? They (BJP leaders) have ST, OBC people to cook food at their homes. They eat food cooked by them everyday. In such situation what kind of a gimmick is this?” Mr. Naik asked.