Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 21: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on BJP Goa Vice President and former South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar over his controversial social media post referring to protesting youngsters as "termites", demanding that the BJP issue a public apology within 24 hours.

The controversy arose after Sawaikar described youths who participated in a protest supporting activist Sonam Wangchuk as "termites" in a social media post. Although the BJP leader later deleted the post following widespread criticism, opposition parties said deleting it was insufficient and insisted on an unconditional apology.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Youth Congress President Archit Naik accused the BJP of insulting an entire generation of young people.

"By calling the youth of Goa 'termites', Narendra Sawaikar has insulted every youngster in the state. Are only BJP's youth organisations, such as ABVP and BJYM, exempt from this label? If students protesting for their rights are termites, then what do we call those who have sold jobs, hills and land?" Naik asked.

He alleged that the BJP was responsible for "destroying the country's future" and said simply deleting the post could not undo the insult.

"Merely deleting the post is not enough. Narendra Sawaikar must apologise to the youth of Goa," he said.

GPCC Working President Sunil Kawthankar described the remark as "one of the most shocking incidents in Goa's political history."

"An ex-MP and BJP Vice President calling peacefully protesting students and youth 'termites' is disgusting and exposes the dictatorial mindset of the BJP," Kawthankar said.

He accused the BJP leadership of becoming intolerant of criticism and likened its attitude towards protesters to that of colonial rulers.

"The youth are protesting for their future, questioning institutions and demanding accountability. Instead of listening to them, the BJP insults them," he said.

Kawthankar also challenged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Damodar Naik to an open public debate.

"Let us debate corruption, environmental destruction and the future of Goa's youth. Then let the people decide who the real termites are," he said.

Alleging that democratic institutions across the country were being weakened, Kawthankar asserted that citizens had a constitutional right to question the government.

"Criticising the Prime Minister or the government is not anti-national. BJP is not India, and Narendra Modi is not the nation," he said.

Appealing to students not to be intimidated, he said the Congress stood firmly with the youth and gave the BJP a 24-hour deadline to apologise.

"We are giving the BJP 24 hours to apologise for its Vice President insulting the youth of Goa and the country. If they fail to do so, the Congress will launch an agitation," he warned.

Congress leader Amit Palekar also condemned Sawaikar's remarks, saying they reflected the BJP's attitude towards Goa's younger generation.

"When senior leaders like Narendra Sawaikar start calling our youth 'termites', it says more about their mindset than it does about young Goans," Palekar said.

He alleged that the BJP government had failed to create employment opportunities, forcing many young Goans to migrate in search of jobs.

"Our youth are engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, farmers, artists and hardworking professionals. They deserve respect, opportunities and hope, not derogatory labels," he said.

Palekar further accused the BJP government of corruption, job scams, reckless land conversions and policies that had weakened Goa's future.

"We demand an apology to every young Goan who has been insulted," he added.

The Goa Forward Party's student wing also criticised Sawaikar's remarks. Student Wing President Vrushank Gaonkar said the BJP leader had mocked students fighting for their future and stressed that the ongoing agitation was "no joke."

He said frustration among students stemmed from issues such as corruption in the education system and unemployment, adding that the very youth labelled as "termites" would become a decisive force against the BJP in the next Assembly elections.

Gaonkar said the remarks would only strengthen the resolve of young people to continue raising their voices against injustice and government failures.