Panaji: AAP held a protest against BJP functionary BL Santosh for rejecting a demand to increase the Griha Aadhar allowance from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month.The demand was raised by a woman BJP MLA, to which Santosh reportedly responded in a misogynistic manner, AAP said. The party termed his remarks a display of BJP’s anti-women mindset. Protesters, including members of AAP’s women’s wing, burnt effigies of Santosh and chief minister Pramod Sawant, condemning their actions and demanding an increase in the monthly allowance to Rs 3,000.AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik criticised Santosh’s stance, pointing out that the allowance had remained unchanged for a decade despite rising inflation. Linking the demand to Arvind Kejriwal’s six guarantees for Goa, Naik said only an AAP govt could deliver such benefits to women.Santosh met BJP MLAs, cabinet ministers and party leaders at the party headquarters in Panaji on Sunday to review their work and constituency performance. The demand to increase the monthly allowance was raised during the meeting.Meanwhile, AAP vice-president Manuel Cardozo condemned the attack on local journalist Sai Prasad Kubde, saying it was the second such incident in Calangute and Siolim. “This shows that law and order has collapsed,” Cardozo said. He demanded strict action against anyone targeting journalists for doing their job.
