PANAJI
AAP has said that rift between the health minister and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is growing by the day. The lack of coordination between the two has caused a lot of damage to the pandemic response of the state. Goans are suffering due to the lack of focus on providing necessary facilities.
“Goans are witnessing the deep divide between CM and health minister from the past few years and it has become more prominent since the pandemic. During the initial days, CM used to conduct a press conference on the daily health bulletin. There was always a mismatch between figures quoted by the health minister and CM Sawant. The health bulletin published incorrect figures for 15 consecutive days for Home Isolation patients, which showed that there is a serious lack of coordination between the two. Goans are paying for their differences and colliding political ambitions,” said AAP spokesperson Surel Tilve.
The party also said that the health minister was always ambitious of becoming the CM and has been in the news for toppling the government. In 2019, his alleged telephonic conversation with a journalist was all over the news, wherein he spoke about toppling the government. The minister was sure of becoming the CM after Manohar Parikar’s demise, but then Pramod Sawant took over.
"Pratapsingh Rane’s statement about the reconsideration of the IIT project at Melauli is another addition to the differences. We can see that CM Sawant is pushing hard for the IIT, but Pratapsingh Rane’s remark of reconsideration tells a different story. It is a clear indication that all is not well between the health minister and CM. The health minister needs to put his own house in order first, the family legacy he always boasts about and draws a political capital," the party spokesperson said.
“What is the fault of Goans? Why are the CM and the health minister sacrificing the interest of Goans for their political ambitions? These are difficult times, we request both to shed their ego and work together for the benefit of Goans. Their differences are coming heavily on the lives of Goans. We have already lost 500 people to Covid. On behalf of Goans, we request both to work for the Goans,” said Tilve.
"Inclusion of the DDSSY scheme for Covid treatment in Private hospitals was a pro Goans move but succumbed to the personal ego of the CM and health minister. With Covid situation worsening by the day Goans are suffering. Businesses are not running, and unemployment is on the rise. Our only hope is that the government realises its duty towards Goans, and CM Sawant and health minister can work together, keeping their political ambitions aside," Tilve said.
