Panaji: Congress party today held a protest march in the city against the failure of Manohar Parrikar-led government to give a clean administration in the State.
The Congress leaders also met Governor Mridula Sinha on Wednesday demanding that the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police should be asked to inquire into the complaint filed by them (congress) against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his predecessor Laxmikant Parsekar for illegal renewal of iron ore mining leases in Goa.
Hundreds of Congress workers in the afternoon walked on the busy D B Bandodkar road in Panaji shouting slogans against Parrikar-led government and later gathered at historic Azad Maidan where the leaders addressed a public meeting.
Before the protest march, the Congress leaders met Governor, once again, reiterating their several demands including the need to issue health bulletin about the medical condition of Parrikar, who is currently being treated at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.
“State government has miserably failed to fulfill the promises made to the people. Several issues are hanging fire and the people are given hollow promises,” Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after meeting Governor.
Kavlekar said that during their meeting with Governor, she was informed the reasons why Congress had to take on the street against the Parrikar-led government.
“State government is almost non-existence. We urged Governor that, at least now, she should instruct the officers to work to restore back the normalcy in the State administration,” the Leader of Opposition said.
He said that the ruling parties have made it free for all with government properties belonging to Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) being sold to the private parties for a throwaway price.
“We have asked her to give instruction to the government to stop all this immediately,” he added.
“We have once again reiterated demand to issue health bulletin about this chief minister’s medical condition. Government says that health of chief minister has improved, if that is so, then why the governance has failed,” Kavlekar questioned.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar said that the party had given formal complaint to Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma and Director General of Police Muktesh Chandar on October 3 and 4, 2018 respectively against Parrikar and his predecessor Parsekar for their alleged involvement in illegal renewal of mining leases.
Supreme Court on February 7, 2018 had quashed renewal of 88 mining leases due to which the entire mining industry has come to a standstill.
“State administration and police are afraid to file complaint against Parrikar and Parsekar. We urged Governor to look into the affairs and ask officers to immediately investigate complaint against Parrikar and Parsekar,” he said.
Chodankar said that the Congress delegation told Governor that the State government is ridden with the scams.
When asked what assurance Governor gave to the Congress delegation, Chodankar said “everytime we meet her, she gives assurance but she never fulfils them.” “She is not giving justice to our demands,” he added.
