Quitting Cong to join BJP? Fake news, says Digambar

MARGAO: As the news spread like wild fire on the social media over the last two days doing the rounds of Margao MLA’s imminent resignation from the Congress to join the BJP, the lane leading to Digambar Kamat Malbhat’s residence was no different with a similar question -- is it true that “Baba” is bracing to quit the Congress along with three other party MLAs to form a new government?
Leave alone the news spreading like wildfire on the social media, the Margao MLA’s phone has not stopped ringing since then, flooded with inquiries and queries from his well-wishers and supporters alike. The origin of the news still remains unknown, but it has come two days after the annual Satyanarayan Pooja performed by the former Chief Minster at his residence had drawn political leaders from across the political spectrum, including senior Congress leaders Pratapsing Rane, Luizinho Faleiro, party MLAs, and not to mention Goa Forward party Supremo and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, to name a few.
What’s significant to note is that the news on the social media has come at a time when sources within the Congress did not rule out the possibility of a senior party leader emerging as a probable Chief Ministerial candidate with the backing of a regional party.
“These are all rumours. There’s been a systematic attempt to “plant” news in the social media. I have received so many queries from my supporters and well wishers. It is being done with an ulterior motive, but I am certain such fake news will not have any bearing on Madgavkars as they know him well and from close quarters over the years,” Kamat told The Goan.
He asserted that neither the BJP leaders nor anyone has approached me with a request to break away from the Congress and return to the party, which he had quit around 2005, paving the way for the downfall of the then Manohar Parrikar government. “Where’s the question of quitting the Congress and join the BJP when I have not been approached by any of the BJP leaders. These are all baseless rumours aimed at confusion my workers and voters, but they will not fall prey to such machinations,” he said.
In a lighter vein, Kamat said social media news has only upped his importance in the political scheme of things. “So many people called me after news did the rounds on the social media. I am not active on the social media and I don’t see who’s planting which news,” he said.
Kamat, however, pointed out there’s a systematic planting of news on the social media on him. “First, they planted the news I met PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar. Then the news came that I will resign from the Congress and then they said I along with three others will quit the Congress. This only goes to show that there’s a systematic attempt to plant news concerning me and the political developments,” he said, adding “You think Madgavkars will believe in such fake news. They know me in and out and they will not believe in such news”.
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Stop sending middlemen if you don't trust me: Sudin to Cong

Congress is frustrated. If they don't trust me then why are they sending middlemen to MGP party officials to form a government
- PWD Minister

PANAJI: PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar on Monday accused the Congress of deputing "middlemen" to confabulate with officials of his MGP on formation of an alternative government.
“Congress is frustrated. If they don't trust me then why are they sending middlemen to MGP party officials to form a government,” Dhavlikar said, referring to Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar's diatribe that the Congress does not have faith in the PWD Minister.
Chodankar had on Sunday said, the Congress does not trust Dhavlikar and was therefore demanding a clarification from Cheif Minister Manohar Parrikar on the stability of the Zuari Bridge.
Countering Chodankar, Dhavlikar told a press conference at his Altinho residence that the Congress should first mind what's going on inside his party.
"Congress itself has 4 MLA less. Girish should speak after thinking," Dhavlikar said.

Zuari bridge is safe,
says the Minister

Meanwhile, vouching for the safety of Zuari Bridge, Sudin said he could assure three years guarantee.
“A committee comprising of two IIT professors is monitoring the state of Zuari bridge and the bridge is found to be technically safe for travelling,” said Minister at a press conference at his official residence in Panaji. He also informed that the new Zuari bridge would be completed by December 2019.
Once the new bridge is completed, the old bridge would be repaired with the help of new technology as done in Patna, he said.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar had on Sunday demanded that Chhief Minister Manohar Parrikar come clean on safety of the bridge. He had alleged that Government was concealing an official letter from chief engineer (national highway) to Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway, which states that piers four and five of the old Zuari bridge need strengthening.
Refuting these allegations, Dhavlikar said that the letter is routine intermediate correspondence for the repair of the road, which is done by the department from time to time.
He alleged that the then Congress government was responsible for the delay in construction of new Zuari bridge and said that Congress had no moral right to make such a statement.
“Girish Chodankar is creating unnecessary fear in the minds of people by making such baseless statements,” he said.
He said the bridge built in 1983 through cantilever technology had become outdated now. In 2008 when it was noticed that the bridge had become weak, movement of heavy vehicles were restricted. Since then gradual repair work and monitoring of the bridge has been going on.
Due to regular repair, the 35-year-old bridge is in good condition. Since Congress has not maintained the old Mandovi bridge the bridge fallen down, he alleged.
Sudin Dhavlikar also informed that Rs. 15 crore Rs works will be done in each constituency. The government has sanctioned 718 crore rupees for this.
Hot mixing work of the roads in Goa will start by 15th November, he said.
He also said that there is no effect on administration in absence of CM. All ministers are working well.   

BJP spreading rumours to save
their own govt: Kavlekar

PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar on Monday rubbished the rumours that a group of Congress MLAs will quit to support the government as "baseless" and a ploy of "defence politics" by the ailing BJP Government.
In a statement issued on Monday, Kavlekar said, the present government is on ventilator and they know that the coalition partners and their own MLAs are not happy with the governance.
"BJP is spreading rumours to save their own government," said Kavlekar.
Kavlekar said messages are floating on social media saying former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Filip Neri Rodrigues, Subhash Shirodkar and Tony Fernandez will split, which are all completely false.
He blamed the BJP for spreading the 'fake news' and creating confusion among Goans.
"In fact the BJP government is under threat of collapse of its own," Kavlekar said.
Kavlekar further said that as many of the Ministers and MLAs are sick there is increasing pressure from workers and MLAs of the BJP for developmental project as files movement is tardy.
"All sixteen of us are together and will further journey together. From last one and half year we had unitedly shown our strength in the Assembly and will face the BJP government unitedly," he said.