BJP Slams Congress Over Hypocrisy After South Goa MP’s Felicitation Amid Shirgao Tragedy

Shirgao, Goa – May 4, 2025: Political temperatures rose in Goa today as the BJP launched a strong attack on the Congress party, accusing it of hypocrisy following the visit of South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes to Shirgao — just a day after the tragic stampede at the annual Devi Lairai Zatra, which claimed several lives.

Capt. Fernandes visited the site of the tragedy to pay respects and also offered prayers at the temple. However, controversy erupted when he was felicitated by a member of the temple committee — the same committee that had come under fire from Congress leaders just a day earlier.

Adding to the public outcry, the Goa state government had declared that all state-level events stand cancelled as a mark of respect for the deceased and injured. In this solemn atmosphere, the felicitation of a political figure has drawn sharp criticism.

BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar condemned the Congress MP’s actions in a tweet:

“While Goa mourns the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at Devi Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon, @ViriatoFern shamelessly gets himself felicitated. For what, exactly? This man has reduced the dignity of being a public representative to a joke. Just yesterday, Congress in-charge @Manikrao_INC had the audacity to blame the temple committee. And today, their South Goa MP is happily getting honoured by the same. Such brazen hypocrisy is the hallmark of Congress.”

The BJP has accused the Congress of politicizing the tragedy and contradicting its own narrative. Congress leaders, including Manikrao Thakre, had earlier held the BJP-led state government responsible for crowd mismanagement at the Zatra, alleging administrative failure led to the stampede.

The Congress party has not yet issued a formal response to the BJP’s remarks, but the incident is expected to dominate the political discourse in Goa over the coming days.

newsbabaonline.com