PANAJI
In less than 24 hours after the BJP State leadership tried to end the feud between Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, the latter has found him in more trouble over a viral audio clip.
An unedited 4.14 minute audio clip of the telephonic conservation between the Minister and Director of Tribal Welfare has gone viral on social media on Tuesday.
In the audio clip, the Minister is heard lashing out at the Head of the Department Dashrath Redkar, of his own Ministry, for granting funds to an NGO for organizing events through Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission in his constituency -- Priol.
In the clip, Gaude was heard yelling, abusing and threatening the officer with dire consequences, if he and the chairman of the SC and ST Commission decide to go ahead with the scheduled event. Though, some says that it is an old audio clip, one cannot ignore the fact that the Minister has even abused the Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the entire clip.
The Minister is even heard saying that he will see how the event takes place and how “that” NGO gets funds. He told the Director to inform Tawadkar and CM that he is not going to tolerate such things in his constituency.
In the entire conversation, the Director is heard explaining to the Minister why the funds were sanctioned and about the event. Feeling humiliated by the Minister's abusive words, the Director even requested Gaude not to use bad words and that he will convey his message to the Chairman of ST and SC Commission.
The clip went viral on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the State for Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047’ programme.
Off late, Gaude has been in the middle of controversy due to allegations of corruption. First it was in the Kala Academy renovation work and the latest was with regards to misappropriation of funds in the Art and Culture Department.
CONG FILES COMPLAINT: The Congress party has filed a police complaint against the Art & Culture Minister Govind Gaude, alleging that he threatened to kill the Chairperson of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission.
Chairperson of Adivasi Congress wing of the party Ramkrishna Jalmi alleged that Gaude, who is incidentally the minister for tribal welfare, gave death threats during a telephonic conversation. He sought an FIR against the minister while also questioning the silence of the BJP despite the audio going viral.
The Panaji police said they are inquiring into the matter to decide the offense.
