Panaji, Mar 13:  Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Vasco-based businessman Nazir Khan on Saturday joined Congress in the presence of Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Chodankar said that entry of Mr Nazir was part of membership drive taken up by the party which was being rebuilt with new energy.

‘Mr Nazir’s entry is part of our party reorganisation process. Many more leaders will join Congress in the days to come. His entry will strengthen party’s base in the minority community,’ he said.

Goa Congress Vice President Sankalp Amonkar said Mr Nazir was not new to Congress as he had earlier been in the party.

‘We are happy that Nazir has joined Congress. He is not new to us. He has been in Congress earlier too. He being in the party we will win all the four assembly constituencies in Mormugoa taluka. It will also give a boost to our membership drive,’ he said.

Thanking the Congress leadership to give him an opportunity to serve the party, Mr Nazir alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had destroyed democracy and was indulging in communal politics.

He said he would try to bring the minority community across the at one platform.

To a question, he said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was in few parts of Goa while Congress was a pan Goa party.

When asked was Mr Nazir replacement of Urfan Mulla, who had quit Congress and joined BJP few months back, Mr Chodankar said talks were on with Mr Nazir much before Mr Mulla the Congress.

‘Our membership drive is underway and many youth are joining Congress. We were in talks with Nazir. His entry into the party has not happened overnight,’ he said.

Criticising Urfan Mulla, who is now BJP spokesperson, Mr Chodankar alleged that Mr Mulla had not clarified what happened to his stand on CAA (The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, against which he was campaigning and holding meetings.

To a question, Mr Nazir said it was impossible for him to join BJP.

‘It is impossible for me to join BJP. If other leaders are joining then it’s their call. The fact is that BJP is a communal party,’ Mr Nazir said.(UNI)