Goes on distribution spree in Benaulim, Margao, Davorlim
the goan I network
MARGAO
“The exercise of distributing free LED bulbs is not done with an eye on the coming election,” the Chief Minister sought to convince the people on the motive behind the bulb distribution and take the battle into the enemy camp.
But, consider this: the Chief Minister descended in Salcete early Thursday morning, first making his presence felt at coastal Benaulim to hand over the free bulbs to the consumers in the presence of BJP ally MLA Caitu Silva. After completing the exercise at Benaulim, the Chief Minister’s motorcade took him to Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, where party leader and former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik was anxiously waiting for his arrival to launch the scheme.
Even before he could hand over the bulbs to a select group of consumers, BJP leaders received a call from their Navelim counterpart, conveying a message that consumers have lined up in large numbers at Davorlim to collect the free bulbs.
In his speech at Ravindra Bhavan, the Chief Minister said the government has not initiated the exercise with an eye on the election, but as per the scheme launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the State. He took the platform to take a dig at the government’s political opponents for terming the scheme as a scam.
“Where is the question of a scam in this entire exercise when the Central government has launched the scheme. Some people say there’s no MRP on the bulbs, but MRP comes only when the product is for sale. If MRP was printed, the bulbs might have gone in the black market,” he said.
Taking further the battle in the enemy camp, the Chief Minister said his government has waived off the price of the bulbs and giving them free to the consumers.
“Though it will cost the exchequer Rs 11 crore for distributing the LED bulbs free, the entire exercise will help the government Rs 5.5 crore annually,” he said, while ruling out any corruption in the exercise.
While coming out of Ravindra Bhavan, the Chief Minister interacted with the power consumers standing in a queue, including women, trying to reassure that all the consumers will receive the free bulbs without any discrimination.
His official car along with the police escort left the Ravindra Bhavan complex and headed towards Davorlim, where party workers and consumers were standing in a queue since morning. And, before heading back to Panaji, the Chief Minister returned back to Margao where he again distributed the free bulbs in the presence of local party workers.
While the very presence of the Chief Minister at the free bulbs distribution programmes in Salcete raised many an eyebrow amongst the ruling party’s opponents, Parsekar put up a brave face to deny any politics behind the exercise. “This exercise is not aimed at wooing the Salcete electorate. People from this taluka were being wooed by the erstwhile government, but my government has been working with the people throughout the year,” Parsekar said, while taking potshots at the Congress party.
