GIRISH THUNDER
* I have documentary evidence, documents to prove that the two ministries were in the know
* Only after the two ministries gave recommendation did the centre take up the sites for adoption
* I don’t want to humiliate them (Vijai & Ajgaonkar), so I shall give them two days (to apologise)
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PANAJI: Vijai Sardesai’s claim that the state government was kept in the dark over the inclusion of Goa’s monuments under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme, is a blatant lie, Girish Chodankar has said.
The newly appointed state Congress president has said that not only was the state government aware of the proposal to take up at least three heritage sites in Goa under the Adopt a Heritage scheme, where private enterprise is given to maintain monuments, but it also recommended the names of Bom Jesu Basilica at Old Goa and Aguada jail to the Union Ministry of Tourism.
He said he would expose the lie with evidence if State Minister for Archives and Archaeology Vijai Sardesai and Minister for Tourism Manohar “Babu” Ajgaonkar did not apologise for their statements.
“When the government speaks, especially on record, it should not lie. I appeal to the two ministers to apologise for making statements that they were in the dark about the adopt a heritage scheme. Either they accept that they have sold themselves to the centre and under pressure from the BJP they are doing whatever is asked of them,” Girish said.
“I am giving them two days. Immediately apologise for misguiding the people. I have documentary evidence, documents that prove that the two ministries were asked, and only after the two ministries gave a recommendation did the centre take up the sites for adoption. I don’t want to humiliate them so I shall give them two days,” Chodankar said.
“The government today is blatantly lying. I can prove it. I will give evidence to show if the two ministers were in the know or not. I will show who signed the file. The minister is responsible for the ministry and if the minister still says that he is not involved, then they clearly don’t know how to handle responsibilities,” he said.
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Will hit the streets if BJP does
not appoint new CM: Girish
PANAJI: The Congress on Thursday launched an attack on the ruling government over failing to appoint a chief minister in Parrikar’s absence saying that the state has been left to rot as governance has come to a standstill.
Newly appointed GPCC president Girish Chodankar has promised that they will take to the streets if the Governor does not ask the BJP to appoint a new chief minister or dismiss the government.
“Two and a half months have passed and there has been no sign of the chief minister. A lot of people have become emotional and out party has also been supportive. There has been no cabinet meeting in this period. Important matters have remained pending. The mining issue is left hanging,” Chodankar said adding that the government squandered the most productive period of the year -- December to May.
“After that, the monsoons start and no work gets done. Already time has gone in elections and by-elections and the Rajya Sabha elections. Despite that, the BJP seems arrogant and selfish. They keep saying nation first, then party and then individual but here we see that the individual is first. Entire Goa is held, hostage. Just because one man is sick, is the entire state to be sick too?” Chodankar asked.
“We ask the Governor to immediately appoint a new chief minister or dismiss the current government. The governor has the powers. We will have to come onto the streets and object to this. The opposition is basically begging for the chief minister,” Chodankar said.
Speaking on the functioning of the three-member cabinet advisory committee, Chodankar said the committee was “not useful”.
Chodankar also questioned the lack of updates on the Chief Minister’s health.
“There has been no official bulletin on his health. If he is seriously sick as the reports indicate, then the BJP and the central leadership is responsible for his deteriorating health. If Manohar Parrikar has to recover from this illness, he has to give up these stressful responsibilities. What stops the government from appointing a full-fledged chief minister?” Chodankar said.
