Panaji: In a statement that can trigger further verbal fight, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte accused son of a former politician, calling him as “ex-goonda” to be behind the opposition for Information Technology Park at Chimbel.
Khaunte was reacting to the allegations leveled against him following an attack on a youth from Chimbel, who was reportedly opposing IT park.
“Son of a former politician who is ex-goonda is behind the opposition for IT park. He might be upset because his settlement is not happening somewhere,” the minister said.
Khaunte said that people of Goa should not be misguided by such elements who have vested interest in stopping such an important project which has a potential to create employment.
He also said that the youth who was attacked is a history sheeter with the criminal record of extortion and stabbing against him.
Khaunte said that of the total 130 acres of land, only 10-12 acres would be developed in the initial stage for the park. “We will address all the environmental concerns while setting up IT park,” he said.
The minister said the consultant for the project has already been appointed and he would be submitting details of the project, which would be shared with the St Cruz MLA and also Chimbel Panchayat for their perusal.
Khaunte also said that some of the social activists were raising the issue against IT park without understanding the issue with the vested interest.
He rubbished claims that State government was using police machinery to suppress opposition to the park.
“The activists had trespassed into IT park during Ganesh Chaturthi. If we wanted, we could have used police machinery against them,” he said.
Khaunte said it is not activism but advertism.