MAPUSA
Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar in his first public function on Saturday said that the support of Goa Forward Party was crucial in government formation in the State and his decision to join the government was only to bring about development. ‘7 toilets at Rs 1 crore for Siolim’
“This government is here only because of us...This government would not have been formed without our support…” said Palyekar.
The Water Resources Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a 200 KVA transformer at Dhando, Anjuna.
Speaking further, he said that there was no truth in the rumours doing the rounds that money changed hands during government formation.
“I have not taken a rupee from anyone... It is not true... If I have taken money from anyone, you can point it out to me in front of the public. I am ready to face any retribution from the public...Don’t believe in false information…,” Palyekar said.
He said the government would function on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme drawn up by the government along with the allies.
“We have formed a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The government will run on the basis of this CMP,” he said.
Stating that the government has fulfilled all demands of the Goa Forward Party, he said very soon the status of the coconut tree which was reduced to grass by the previous government would soon be changed into a tree.
Former Verla-Canca sarpanch Milton Marques said that GFP had not joined BJP as was made out to be, but had only supported the BJP-led government for the development of the State.
“What we have done is for the good of the people of Goa. We have come together with only one agenda and that is development.” said Marques.
He said GFP had waited for the Congress to form the government but the party couldn’t elect its own leader.
The former sarpanch disclosed that WRD controlled almost 35 per cent of Goa’s budget and the minister’s focus would be on development.
“We had promised to develop the coastal belt. We will focus on first providing basic needs like good roads, power and water,” he said.
