PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party leader Valmiki Naik said he was willing to discuss the power issue with Power Minister Nilesh Cabral who said he was ready to debate with any Goan.
It may be recalled that Cabral had earlier challenged AAP for a public debate on the power issue and even offered to sponsor their travel to Goa.
However, when AAP spokesperson and MLA Raghav Chadha arrived in Goa, Cabral said he will only debate with the Delhi power minister.
Valmiki while pointing out that he is a son of Goa said he was willing to discuss the matter so that Goans can benefit, and asked Cabral to resist using derogatory terms like "aaoto" or mad.
Refuting Cabral's claim that he received no call from Chadha, he said that the call was made in the presence of reporters.
Valmiki wondered whether Cabral is in touch with the ground reality and pointed out that Goans all over were protesting against the high electricity bills handed after three months.
"How can Cabral say that Goans are not troubled by the electricity bills while in Delhi people get zero bill," he asked.
Valmiki also refuted Cabral's contention that the Centre is bearing 60 per cent of the cost of Delhi administration and revealed that the Centre pays only Rs 350 crore of the Rs 60,000 crore Delhi budget.
"Cabral, as is his nature, is giving false information only to fool and mislead Goans," he said.
While pointing out that most of the beneficiaries of the welfare schemes in Goa have not received their dole for months he said the Delhi government has announced new schemes even during the lockdown.
He disclosed that Delhi will be distributing 7.5 kgs extra rations to its residents during the lockdown period and said this benefit will be given to 7.1 million people.
"Delhi the old-age pension has been increased from Rs 2,250 to Rs 4,500 during the Covid crisis," he said while pointing out that senior citizens in Goa have not received their pension for months.
"In Delhi, widows get Rs 2,500 every month while women travel free in public transport while in Goa the Laadli Laxmi scheme is frozen and the Griha Adhar scheme is in cold storage," he said.
Valmiki pointed out that the world has appreciated the public education system in Delhi and said that Harvard University wanted to study it.
