PANAJI
The Congress on Wednesday questioned the logic of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri for choosing to debunk its allegations of graft and mismanagement of the Panaji smart city works in Delhi instead of conducting a site visit and objectively addressing the issue during his recent visit to Goa.
Congress leader Elvis Gomes alleged that the magnitude of corruption involved in ‘Smart City’ project is huge and hence the Union Urban Affairs Minister should have investigated it if he dared to expose his party leaders.
Gomes, who addressed a press conference at the party headquarters in the company of GPCC media in-charge Amarnath Panjikar, GPCC general secretary Vijay Bhike and Panaji Mahila block chief, Lavinia D'Costa, said that Puri's claim that Congress' charges on ‘Smart City’ Project are unverified exposes the lack of guts to investigate.
Accusing Puri of using the media arm of the Union government (PIB) to level allegations from Delhi against the Congress in Goa, Gomes said the union minister shied away from meeting the people of Panaji who suffer due to the substandard work of Smart City.
"If BJP leaders are not shareholders of this corruption, then why are they hesitating to order an investigation,” Gomes asked.
If BJP has guts it should order central vigilance commission inquiry, particularly when Panaji MLA and Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate has admitted the ongoing work is sub-standard, he added.
“Monserrate has rightly said that Rs 8 crores are given to consultant without any reason. When the minister admits corruption, then there is no need to give proof of corruption,” he said.
Panjikar meanwhile said, the Congress will continue to raise questions over the corruption of Smart City.
“Whatever allegations we have leveled are not unsubstantiated. We had asked Puri to walk through the city to know what was happening there. But he failed," Panjikar said.
“Have you (media and People) seen Mr. Puri visiting Panaji? Had he come from any vehicle? What has he done by coming here?,” Panjikar questioned.
"The Local MLA has also exposed it. Come for open debate if we are wrong. Centre is involved in this corruption,” Bhike added.
