the goan I network
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hit back at the Opposition including the Congress and former deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai for making “false claims” over the quantum of land he had purchased in 2016 in Dodamarg taluka of neighbouring Maharashtra State.
Clarifying that he had bought two parcels of land aggregating some 33,000 square meters, Sawant hit back at Sardesai calling him “fotting” for alleging that he had acquired some 2,966 hectares in Dodamarg. Addressing a specially called press conference at his official Altinho residence, Sawant warned Sardesai and Chodankar that if they continue to spread falsities in a bid to misguide the public he will be forced to sue them for libel in his personal capacity. He said, he has already instructed his lawyer to prepare the paper work for such legal action.
Sawant also said that Sardesai, Chodankar and the others seem to have missed a decimal point in figure mentioned in his property documents and thus made the error.
The Congress’ national spokesperson had on Saturday last alleged that Sawant had purchased a whopping 2966 acres in Dodamarg. Sardesai on the other hand had claimed that he had purchased crores of square meters of land in Maharashtra.
“Vijai Sardesai has claimed I have purchased crores of square metres of land. If he continues to make such false allegations against me I will be forced to take legal action against him,” Sawant told reporters at the press conference. Sardesai had claimed
on Saturday that Sawant had acquired 2,966 acres of land in Dodamarg but Sawant, quoted his property documents and insisted it is only 2.966 acres (approximately 13,000 sq mts).
The acrimony between the Chief Minister and Sardesai had been gradually intensifying ever since the latter was unceremoniously sacked as Deputy Chief Minister after Sawant executed an unlikely coup of luring 10 of the 15 Congress MLAs to defect.
Sardesai was replaced by the leader of the Congress group of 10 and former Opposition Leader Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar. Two other Goa Forward Party colleagues of Sardesai - Vinoda Palyenkar and Jayesh Salgaonkar - and Independent Porvorim legislator Rohan Khaunte were also dropped from the cabinet to accommodate the Congress defectors who joined the BJP.
Sawant also said, that his election related affidavit clearly mentions the purchase of the land in 2016 and the financial statement also provides details of bank statements of the payouts. He also added that he has availed of bank loans and the payments have also been done from his bank account. Meanwhile, in an uncharacteristic counter-attack, Sawant picked out details of Sardesai’s election affidavits of 2007 and 2012 to question the multiple growth of a 500 per cent increase in income from Rs 5.45 crore to Rs 25.21 crore.
Sawant said Sardesai had also listed his annual family income as Rs 7 lakh and yet owns nine flats in a commercial building, which are purchased in the name of his wife Usha.
“There is need for Sardesai to explain how when he says his family income is Rs 7 lakh has come to own nine flats in a commercial building?,” Sawant asked, adding that it needed to be investigated.
