Panaji: Goa’s Deputy leader of opposition and Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar on Wednesday wrote letter to the Prime Minister demanding to sack Union Minister Smriti Irani for a free and fair investigation into the controversial restaurant.
A restaurant based at Assagao village in North Goa had run into controversy over the illegalities. The business has been allegedly linked to the family members of Irani.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amonkar said that Irani has once again lied to the entire nation on her family run business in Goa.
“All the circumstantial evidences which are supported by her latest affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India during 2019 Election, documents of Registrar of companies Maharashtra and GST details prove prima facie that the restaurant in question Silly Souls Café and Bar at Assagao is run by her family,” Amonkar said,
He said that various departments are currently conducting inquiries on the complaint filed by Adv Aires Rodrigues. “The illegalities pointed out in this matter include illegal issuance of liquor licence, and the illegal construction of the said restaurant which is in violation of various laws,” Amonkar added.
It is suspected that this entire business has been run on Benami style and there is a high possibility that the property is also held as Benami, he said adding that it is a typical issue of Benami properties, businesses and black money which you had voiced out during your election campaigns since 2014.
In the letter, Amonkar said that State Women and child Welfare minister Vishwajit Rane responding to a question on Irani had said that he can’t speak on the issue as she is his boss.
“How can we expect an IAS officer to give justice when a senior minister says Irani is his boss? How can we expect the state government employees to be upright when their houses have submitted before Smt Irani,” he questioned.
Amonkar said that on the line with your promise, we strongly demand that Irani be immediately dropped from the council of ministers in order to pave way for a free and fair probe, without any pressure from their bosses in Goa as well as in Delhi.
