PANAJI
While much has been written about Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and former Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte's vociferous slanging matches in the state legislative assembly and on Twitter, on Monday, the two blew hot and cold at each other at a function organised by the Goa Housing Board in Khaunte's constituency of Porvorim.
Sawant took subtle potshots at Khaunte, claiming that irrespective of the latter's swipes against him and his government on Twitter, the Porvorim MLA, by thanking him, had finally spoken some truths when the two met him in person at the function.
Khaunte had first thanked the Chief Minister for clearing some projects in his constituency, but later took swipes at Sawant after the function concluded, accusing the Sawant government of ensuring that projects undertaken by him as an Opposition MLA were languishing.
The exchange of satirical barbs were triggered after Khaunte thanked the Chief Minister for his help in clearing projects in the opposition MLAs constituency, but also added an initial rider.
"There may be many issues, Goa related issues, as an MLA it is my job to raise them and ensure they take the right direction. Similarly, the government has a responsibility, that every constituency gets the right development in the right way. From what all he (Sawant) has given, I would not deny that he is helping us," Khaunte said.
When it was the Chief Minister's turn to take the dais, Sawant, who has been robust in his defence against allegations levelled at him by Khaunte in the state assembly, tried to take the Porvorim MLA on in an obviously satirical manner.
"One thing made me very glad that Rohan agreed that we did not stall any Porvorim related works. Am I right?," CM asked Rohan, to which the independent MLA said that he had started the projects.
"We did not stall them. Not a single work has been stalled. He spoke the absolute truth today. I felt glad and I congratulate him. Whatever he speaks on Twitter is secondary, but today," Sawant said in response to Khaunte's interjection.
"When one meets face to face a person speaks the correct truth. I appreciate it. I will fulfil the remaining works. Public works are about people, not MLAs. Of course, it is his work to bring them to the government's attention and ensure they are completed. Whatever works that are pending and need to be done urgently, will never lag behind," the Chief Minister said.
After the function, Khaunte told reporters that while the Pramod Sawant-led government had completed projects which were started by him when he was a part of the late Manohar Parrikar cabinet, projects started by him as an Opposition MLA were languishing.
"All projects which I have proposed after coming out of the government are still where they are. Projects we had undertaken when I was in the government are almost due for completion, they were kept on hold for the last one and a half years. End of the day it is not Rohan Khauntes project, nor Pramod Sawant's," Khaunte said.
"In good things, I will ensure that he is congratulated and supported like what I have said today, but if there are bad things then I need to point them out. It is the job of the MLA. What he has done today, I have thanked him for it publicly. At the same time it is the duty of the CM to ensure that taxpayers money put in a project are properly utilised," Khaunte said, justifying his carrot and stick approach towards the government.
