Suspended Goa Youth Congress president alleges 'harassment'

State Congress chief John Fernandes however refuted the allegations

Valanka Alemao, who was yesterday suspended as the chief of Goa Youth Congress, today alleged that she was "tortured and harassed" by the party officials who wanted her to resign.

State Congress chief John Fernandes refuted the allegations, saying that he had not met her or spoken with her after the Lok Sabha campaign began, so there was no question of harassment.

Alemao, accused of deliberately staying away from campaigning during the Lok Sabha polls, today claimed that local office-bearers of Congress were pressuring her to quit her post, but she refused.

"I was harassed and tortured by local party officials. I was abused with derogatory words by GPCC chief John Fernandes, legislator Aleixo Lourenco Reginaldo and spokesperson Pratima Coutinho," Alemao alleged.

Fernandes claimed that she only wanted to get people's sympathy. "I have never met her or phoned her since Lok Sabha campaign began. So the question of abusing or torturing her does not arise. That must be her imagination," he told PTI.

Valanka Alemao, daughter of former Goa minister Churchill Alemao, is facing a probe by state Congress for alleged anti-party activities, and also by the party's central committee which is studying the reasons for poll debacle.