PANAJI
Terming the recent statements of Town and Country Planning Minister, Vijai Sardesai’s recent statements on the improbability of the implementation of the Regional Plan by December 2017 as ‘breach of the House’, All India Congress Committee secretary, Girish Chodankar on Thursday demanded an apology from Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for perpetrating the ‘U-turn within the U-turn’.
In a media statement, Chodankar said, “Within five days of the budget announcement, his (Parrikar’s) second-in-command TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has claimed that it is not possible to draft the Regional Plan by December 2017. He has also spoken about Regional
plan 2032.”
Chodankar insisted that the differences between statements made by Parrikar and Vijai amount to ‘breach of the House’.
“Congress party considers this difference between Parrikar and Sardesai as ‘breach of the House’ as the budget document placed on the floor of the House is sacrosanct. Congress demands that Parrikar should tender an apology to all the MLAs and also to the people for making a false assurance on the crucial issue of Regional Plan,” he stated.
Chodankar questioned the hierarchy within the present government and lashed out, “Whom should the people believe? The CM or the TCP minister? This clearly indicates that the BJP-led government is all set to start a five-year long tenure of U-turns which can be called as U-turns within U-turn.”
The Congressman noted that the promise of putting a Regional Plan in place has remained unfulfilled over the last five years of BJP government and charged that the recent differences between Parrikar and Sardesai on the Regional Plan have made it clear that Goa will not have a land use plan for five
more years.
“It has also made Goans think whether all the other promises made in the budget are realistic or merely an eye wash. Knowing the past record of Parrikar and dubious intention of Sardesai to join hands with BJP, it is ample clear that none of the popular things mentioned in the budget would come true,” Chodankar predicated.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Goan, Chodankar attempted to put to rest the unconfirmed reports about the exit of two more Congress MLAs from the party and the alleged offers they have received from the BJP. He declared that the Congress Legislative Party is united and that these whispers are mere rumours ignited by the BJP to seek its interests.
Chodankar stated, “In an attempt to keep its motley flock together, the BJP led by Manohar Parrikar is targeting a new Congress MLA each day. Our MLAs are being pressurised to quit and all these immoral acts of this government are aimed at securing its stability. But all 16 MLAs of Congress are strong and none will fall prey to Parrikar’s tactics.”
