the goan I network
PANAJI
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral is initiating the process to appoint noted RTI activist Kashinath Shetye and an Assistant Engineer in the Electricity Department as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in his office.
“I am moving a file for the appointment of Kashinath Shetye as OSD in my office,” Cabral told The Goan on Monday.
“He is good in his knowledge. He can help to streamline the department instead of acting like an NGO,” Cabral said, when asked what motivated him to take Shetye on board his team.
The minister however denied Shetye’s claims that he had asked him to resign, else he would be appointed his OSD.
“Why should I want him to resign? On the contrary I am appreciating his talents and moving the file to appoint him as OSD. I want him to help streamline the functioning of the department,” Cabral said.
Earlier on Sunday Shetye, who is known to call out political leaders and officials for acts of impropriety had claimed through a social media post that he has been told to resign or will be taken as OSD.
Shetye is employed with the Electricity Department and was recently promoted as Assistant Engineer. He is currently posted at the Vidyuth Bhavan headquarters in Panaji.
He is known to file public interest litigations on a range of subjects, particularly on environmental issues, and is a vocal critic of government wrong-doings.
The move to appoint Shetye as OSD by Cabral is significant particularly in the backdrop of a run-in they had months before the latter took over the Power portfolio as Cabinet Minister when the latter moved for ‘breach of privilege’ after he reportedly posted on Facebook contents of a legislative assembly question ahead of time. The issue led to an FIR of ‘theft’ being booked against Shetye which was however quashed by a court after he challenged it.
The move to get him appointed as OSD could possibly tame the hitherto maverick engineer-activist once it materializes. Cabral however says using his talent to improve the department is his sole motive.
