PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar on Monday demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarify the government’s stand on the ongoing Karapur agitation. Addressing a press conference, Chodankar said Karapur residents had been protesting for 144 days seeking justice, without a response from the State government. He said the Congress had joined the agitation and would continue supporting the protesters.
Alleging attempts to silence the Opposition, Chodankar said legal notices were issued after questions were raised over the House of Abhinandan Lodha project. He also sought an explanation over alleged links involving people connected to the project. He questioned the ownership of a private jet reportedly worth Rs 130 crore and allegedly parked at Mopa or Belagavi airport, asking whether Sawant used it and who funded its operations. He also alleged that people close to the Chief Minister had become “overnight crorepatis” and demanded transparency.
Responding to the jet allegation, the Chief Minister’s Office said Mopa Airport sources had confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the Essar Group and was based at the airport under a base-parking arrangement. Its use was restricted exclusively to group’s owners, with no other person permitted to use it. “All other assertions made by Girish Chodankar are his own, and it is for him to prove and substantiate them,” the CMO said.
Chodankar also questioned Police Sub-Inspector recruitment, saying 187 posts were advertised but only 126 candidates joined, leaving around 60 vacancies. He alleged this raised suspicion of irregularities. He said he had written to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police seeking intervention and demanded a transparent recruitment process, while asserting that the Congress would continue questioning the government despite legal notices.
