the goan I network
MARGAO
Virtually rejecting the eight-day deadline set by Goemkars against PDAs to scrap the PDAs and disband the Town Country Planning department, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said he will not even engage with people who set deadlines, saying what is happening in the State is mobocracy and not democracy.
He also ruled out the question of withdrawing the villages from Bardez from the ambit of the Planning and Development Authority, saying one cannot discuss issues with someone who sets deadlines. “The situation today reads like this. They want the TCP department disbanded. This demand is being made when I have power to do only certain things. Tomorrow, they may demand to disband the irrigation department and allow the gram sabhas to build bundhs and canals”, he told the media on the sidelines of the foundation stone ceremony for the construction of a Rs 1.67 crore storm water nullah at Madel on Saturday. He later launched another storm water nullah work at Marlem, with both the works estimated to cost around Rs 2.87 crore.
The TCP Minister feared that a time may come when there may be a demand to disband the government and empower the gram sabhas to rule and decide.
“Claude Alvares has said that before the TCP Act came into force, no houses were built in the fields. How do you expect dialogue to take place when reasons cited are not rational and civilized’, he asked.
Saying that those demanding scraping of PDAs have got emboldened after govt withdrew villages from Greater Panjim PDA and apparently feel that they can get more from him, Sardesai said it will be difficult to engage with these people. “Is this not akin to a candidate contesting an election, vowing to scrap the Constitution”, he asked.
When the media sought to know whether the TCP department will withdraw Bardez villages from PDA, he replied in the negative, saying there cannot be discussions when people set deadlines and ultimatums.
What is happening in the State is mobocracy and not democracy
Today they want TCP department disbanded... Tomorrow, they may demand to disband the irrigation department
Agitators have got emboldened after the govt withdrew villages from Greater Panjim PDA and apparently feel they can demand more
No further discussion can take place when they are demanding the disbanding of the very department
This is akin to a candidate contesting an election, vowing to scrap the Constitution
Govt cannot be formed by issuing threats to us, Vijai tells Congress
MARGAO: Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has point black told the Congress party that they cannot hope and think of forming the government at the point of gun and by issuing threats to the alliance partners of the coalition government.
When the media drew his attention to a purported statement made by a senior Congress leader that the Congress has the option of forming the government with the Goa Forward and other parties, Sardesai shot back “How can we even think of taking anything forward with the Congress when the party is acting immature? We cannot form the government when leaders of the main Opposition party are issuing threats. Don’t dare to frighten me. You think I will break because of such threats. You cannot form the government at the point of gun. The Congress has senior leaders who are mature enough to take decision on questions such as government formation”.
