Panaji, October 28: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has alleged massive financial irregularities in the BJP government’s Janjati Gaurav Week celebrations, questioning expenditure exceeding ₹16 crore, including ₹7.67 crore spent on a single day, November 15, 2025.

Addressing a press conference, GPCC Media and Publicity Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, accompanied by ST leader Satyawan Gaonkar and Sanguem Youth Congress President Yogesh Gaonkar, presented RTI documents allegedly exposing inflated bills, questionable contracts and irregularities in the selection of an event management agency.

According to Panjikar, ₹7,67,63,886 was spent on a Mahasammelan at SGPDA Ground, Margao, two rallies and two live interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Another ₹8.73 crore was reportedly spent on programmes organised between October 31 and November 14, 2025.

The major expenditure included ₹2.17 crore for transportation, ₹76 lakh for T-shirts and sarees, ₹50 lakh for Birsa Munda statues, ₹65.79 lakh for newspaper advertisements, ₹32.97 lakh for branding, ₹36.12 lakh for the Fatorda rally and ₹20 lakh for a red carpet.

Panjikar questioned how these expenses were calculated, approved and verified. He alleged that Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had recommended event agency Sean Adevent, as indicated in an RTI-obtained letter, despite claiming that proper tender procedures were followed.

“The government must explain how ₹7.67 crore was spent in just one day. Public money cannot be squandered through questionable contracts and inflated bills,” Panjikar said.

He also questioned the reported ₹4.40-crore expenditure on Prerana Din celebrations in May 2026 and the proposed ₹8-crore spending on the upcoming November celebrations.

Demanding the resignations of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Minister Tawadkar, Panjikar announced that Congress would approach the Goa Lokayukta and Vigilance Department seeking an independent investigation into the contracts, tender procedures, bills and payments.

He also challenged the Chief Minister to an open public debate and demanded disclosure of all relevant financial records.

Panjikar maintained that funds should prioritise ST political reservation, settlement of forest rights claims, government employment, education and infrastructure rather than extravagant celebrations.

“Honouring Bhagwan Birsa Munda should mean empowering tribal communities, not spending crores on ceremonial events,” he asserted.