the goan I network
PANAJI
The Congress on Sunday has demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar resign immediately or Chief Minister Pramod Sawant sack him over his failure on safety and security of tourists besides gross corruption in the tourism department under his charge.
Goa has witnessed two drowning deaths on its beaches in a week which has exposed the collapse of beach safety and lifeguarding services, Congress spokesperson Swati Kerkar said.
“Is it that the Chief Minister wants to convert Goa as ‘Drowning Destination?” Kerkar questioned mockingly.
She said the silence of Sawant on the alleged Rs 141 crore paid to M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd which handled beach cleaning and life-guarding services on Goa’s beaches is surprising.
She said the lack of equipment and ill-treatment exposed by striking lifeguards had vindicated Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, who had raised the issue in the legislature. “GPCC chief Girish Chodankar had also exposed various irregularities in the beach safety and beach cleaning contracts.”
Kerkar also raised objection to Ajgaonkar’s foreign junkets with family members, including his brother Dr Shrikant Ajgaonkar and sister-in-law Rashmi Ajgaonkar.
