PANAJI: Goa Congress held a protest against the State BJP government’s decision to lease out Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Multipurpose Indoor Stadium to a private party for a period of ten years.
The opposition party accused the government of prioritizing private interests over public welfare.
“Instead of using the stadium for sportspersons, the government is giving it away to private players. If they can lease a stadium named after their ideological founder, what stops them from selling Goa’s land, heritage, and natural resources?” said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar
He alleged that this is another example of the BJP’s anti-people and corrupt governance. "Leasing out a stadium built with public money is a betrayal of public trust,” he charged.
Earlier this week, the State Cabinet approved leasing of stadium, located at Taleigao Plateau, to a Mumbai based Showbiz company Dome Entertainment Pvt Ltd for a period of ten years.
According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant the deal will fetch government revenue of about Rs 25 lakhs monthly.
Congress leaders argued that the stadium, meant for the promotion of sports and the development of Goan athletes, should not be handed over to private entities.
Patkar also pointed out that the stadium is located on Goa University land, and leasing it would require permission from the university’s executive council.
The Congress party has written to the Goa University Vice Chancellor Harilal Menon not to allow privatisation of the stadium, which is located within their jurisdiction.
