PANAJI
Hitting out at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for stating that he would give beneficiaries of various welfare schemes a ‘Chaturthi gift’ by clearing dues worth Rs 141 crore, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai said the undue delay points to the intent of the government to close the schemes.
Sardesai informed reporters that around 30,000 beneficiaries of DSSS rely on the doles for meeting their monthly medical expenses.
“However, the government sat on funds available with it instead of timely disbursing the same, which shows that the government is intending to close down the welfare schemes which were started by late Manohar Parrikar,” Sardesai stated and alleged that the current CM wants to finish the legacy of Parrikar.
Meanwhile, Sardesai also alleged that the government was taking away powers of the local bodies in the name of providing ease of doing business.
“Ease of doing business does not mean one should do away with the legal process,” he said and alleged that it is only an attempt to dilute powers of local bodies.
“First the government took away powers from panchayats and now they are seeking to take away powers from municipalities by amending the Goa Municipalities Act,” Sardesai alleged and said that ease of doing business can be done by implementing the time-bound delivery of services Act which was introduced by late Parrikar in 2013.
“In 2013, by introducing the time-bound delivery of services Act, Parrikar had said ease of doing business was simplification of procedure and not doing away with legalities,” he stated.
Phogat case: GF demands CM to step down as Home Minister, subject himself to probe
PANAJI: Stating that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should come out clean on his ‘cardiac arrest’ statement in the death of Sonali Phogat, Goa Forward president Vijai Sardesai demanded that he step down as Home Minister and subject himself to an inquiry.
“The CM should answer whether he was under any pressure from politicians of other States to go slow on the issue. Otherwise why did he term it as heart attack?” Sardesai stated while adding that there are many questions which only the CM can answer.
“Therefore Goa Forward demands that he step down as Home Minister and subject himself to an investigation for the truth to come out. It is a serious issue which cannot be pushed under the carpet,” Sardesai said while also demanding that the central leadership of the BJP should go into the depth of the case.
