PANAJI
Union Minister for Roads and Transport Nitin Gadkari on Monday spelt out the perils of a minority government claiming that such governments are held hostage and destabilised by legislators who hold the establishment to ransom while urging the people of Goa to vote for a BJP government with a sizeable majority.
Gadkari also said that Goa was able to develop at a fast pace over the last 10 years because of the "double engine government" powered by stable BJP governments both at the State and Centre.
"The people of Goa have a good experience of stability and instability (in governance). I have said that people in Goa, change parties like they are strolling casually in a park. This happens only in Goa. One loses track of who has quit which party and has gone where," Gadkari said, while speaking at the inauguration of the BJP's central election office for the upcoming elections.
"And finally when (a party) has 15-16 MLAs and four to five MLAs are needed (to form a government) they start exacting a price. And in the process of meeting that price, instability is created. Because the MLAs say do this or I will withdraw support. Goa has experienced this too," Gadkari said.
"Goa's biggest strength has been the stable government in Goa and the double engine phenomenon with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. That is why so many development works could be carried out," he said, adding that his Ministry alone had sanctioned works to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore, which incidentally is more than the gross budgetary outlay in the state's 2020-21 budget.
The Union Minister also said that Goa had witnessed a spell of unbridled prosperity over the last 10 years due to the leadership of the late Manohar Parrikar.
Gadkari also "certified" the leadership credentials of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, saying he had been able to walk the progressive path laid down by his predecessor Parrikar.
"Manohar Parrikar worked selflessly for Goa. I am here to give a certificate to Pramod Sawant, who is also working in the same spirit. Pramod Sawant's leadership has managed to fill the void left behind by Parrikar," he said.
Subtly slamming the entry of new political parties in Goa's electoral scenario, Gadkari said that such political outfits often tend to spring up ahead of elections like frogs in the monsoons.
"Many parties have surfaced in Goa like frogs in the rains. If you name them, one tends to give them credence," Gadkari said.
"There are many leaders who want to test themselves on the national stage. But they do not have any value outside their states. The people of Goa know that if they do not give a majority to one party and elect a few MLAs from all parties, then a new game will be unleashed and Goa will be unstable and development will halt in every way," he said.
