MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the protesting freedom fighters continued to remain adamant in their stand despite government assurance of 23 jobs and to resolve all other pending issues by March 31.
“We have been holding discussions with the protesting freedom fighters. We have assured them to find a solution to all other problems by March 31. This issue has been lingering for the last 60 years. We need some time to find a way out,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was responding to the concerns of the protesting freedom fighters raised by Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte at the Zero Hour.
Continuing, Sawant said so far 143 jobs were released in the freedom fighters category from the time the BJP-led government had come to power.
“We have no intention to cause harm to any of the freedom fighters. The freedom fighters association heads will be held responsible if anything happens to them while they are undergoing the fast unto death,” he said.
He said besides promising 23 jobs, the government had assured to absorb the balance number of candidates in the human resources and absorb them in the government service as and when vacancies arise.
“The freedom fighters are demanding us to give in writing. We have also asked them to give in writing that they will not resort to protests in the future,” the CM informed the House.
Earlier, taking up the case of the freedom fighters, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said the political class has failed to do justice to the freedom fighters.
“Two percent of government jobs were reserved for the children of freedom fighters in 1996 which was increased to 5 percent in 2006. The government finds various ways including ordinances to implement its decisions but cannot fulfill the demands of the freedom fighters,” Khaunte lamented.
