Panaji: Several Congress leaders were detained in Panaji on Saturday by Goa police following a protest against the cash-for-jobs scam that has been rocking the state.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar and South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes were among the prominent leaders who were detained after they blocked the road near Azad Maidan in the capital city.
The protests happened next to the State Police Headquarters, and commotion prevailed when the protestors wanted to walk to Altinho, a locality in the city that houses the official residence of CM Dr. Pramod Sawant.
Patkar demanded that the chief minister immediately resign, taking responsibility for this cash-for-jobs scam. He accused the CM of “chairing the entire scam.”
He reiterated that the Congress party has been demanding an impartial Judicial Commission to probe the depth of this scam.
More than 20 people have been detained in around 40 different FIRs filed at various police stations across the state by victims who were duped out of lakhs of rupees by the accused, who promised them government jobs.
The Goa Congress chief said that people close to BJP ministers are being booked in connection with the scam, which clearly indicates that these ministers are involved in the crime.
South Goa Member of Parliament Viriato Fernandes alleged that the cash for jobs scam has been going on since the BJP came to power.
“The proof of what we have always been alleging has started coming out now. The state government does not mean business; they want to do business,” he said.
