Subhash dismisses leadership change, claims Cong not involved in illegal mining
PTI, PANAJI | 23 September 2011 18:57 IST
Congress today rubbished speculations of change in leadership in Goa in the backdrop of the inquiry of illegal mining in the state, in which names of a few party leaders have surfaced.
"There are no talks of leadership change. Digambar Kamat will continue (as Goa Chief Minister)," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhash Shirodkar told reporters here.
Speculations about a possible leadership change in Goa grew after Kamat and Shirodkar were summoned to Delhi by Congress high command earlier this week.
Shirodkar said the Delhi trip was in connection with preparations for the forthcoming state legislative assembly election.
Talking to PTI, Kamat blamed the media for the rumours.
"Local media has been writing about leadership change although I had clarified to them that I had gone for a different meeting in Delhi," the Chief Minister said.
The Justice M B Shah Commission has begun inquiry into the multi-crore illegal mining trade in the state, which is estimated to be somewhere between Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 10,000 crore by different agencies.
During the initial investigation by the Commission, names of a few Congress politicians, including Goa Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao and Dinar Tarcar, had surfaced.
Role of the state government, which failed to control illegal iron ore trade, has also been questioned by the Shah Commission.
"Congress party or Congress government is not involved in illegal mining in Goa," Shirodkar claimed.
"Whether they are small or big, if some person is involved (in illegal mining) then he should be punished," he added.
To a query, Shirodkar said it was to be seen whether the Shah Commission report speaks of irregularities or illegalities.
"There is vast difference between irregularities and illegalities. Any sensible person would know it," he said, while conceding some partymen may be involved in irregularities.
The Congress leader said it was for the party high command to decide whether to give tickets for next year's Assembly polls in the state to those indicted by the Shah Commission.
"Let the report come. It's not for me to decide. The high command will have a copy of the commission report and they will decide," Shirodkar said.
Shirodkar admitted that many Congress ministers and legislators have interests in the mining business.
"I myself own trucks which work on mines. Mining is a legal activity," he said.
Corruption is rampant in Goa. It seems that for a Govt. job a candidate has to pay Rs.6 lakhs. Can you believe that just a PA (who may not even be a Graduate),working for the Minister, built a BUNGALOW? from where does the money come? What is his salary to get a loan from Bank? For money, these people go to the extent of putting pressure & granting STAY ORDER without even finding out whether the DEMOLITION ORDER issued by the concerned Authorities, is right or wrong. WHEN WILL SUCH CORRUPTION END?
To N. Fernandes,
You are right, corruption /ruining of Goa must stop. Your message must be circulated to each and every household in Goa because most of the people think the good leader is the one who give them 'bonus/Baxis' at the time of elections. You must also recommend a true honest candidate. Congress family business from North to South must be stopped. Yet we have time to introduce the anti corruption (Lokpal) bill and have a real democracy. even as India is seen as economically booming, poor is getting poor day by day, salaries in Goa are unbelievable low. some examples of salaries are 'sales girls' and 'waiters'. Time to get things on the track for our kids and future generation.
Considering that illegal Mining has taken place under the watch of Digamber Kamat,it would be a travesty of Justice and Jurisprudence to allow him to continue as Chief Minister.Goans everywhere , hme & abroad, have been shouting aloud and writing a lot about illicit and illegal Mining for years.Rampant Mining has destroyed the beauty of Goa.It cannot be replaced.It is murdering Nature and a gift of God without any responsibility or mercy. Digamber Kamat has chosen, with his eyes and ears open to ignore claims made about illegal mining.He has done so to serve the Mining families his children are married into. Mr Digamber Kamat cannot be trusted to preserve the future of Goa and Goans and hence he should be not only held ultimately responsible for all the illegal mining,but should be either sacked or better still jailed.All proceeds from this crime should be confiscated too.Shame on you Mr Digamber Kamat.You may be Honourable today...but tomorrow it is another day and you will soon be titled as dishonourable im the eyes of each and every Goan.
So Subhash clearly knows who is involved in illegal mining.
As such, why can't he name names of the people who are indulged in this 'rape' of our motherland.
It is an open secret, that the mining 'MAFIA' has bee running this government and media in the state of Goa. Greed has no limit indeed!
Reading about Subash Shirodkars statements on various Press ,TV & Media reports, gives one the impression that he is a Congress Party, Make-up artist.I am sure the make-up artists working for mega Bollywood Films must be wondering where this clown has learnt this new style of "make-up" trade.Subash Shirodkar seems to be covering -up all the non-facial, scars, dimples, pimples, acne,moles,spots,blemishes etc of corrupt Congress Party Members .He wants to beautify them to make them look good & innocent, in the eyes of the public. I wonder who he is trying to convince about the beauty of the Congress Party Members in connection with the Mining and other scams and corrupt Practices.The Congress Party Members do not win votes.They buy them in the "Electoral Bazaars".
Many current Congress Party members are also renegades and mavericks from other Political Parties.A new entrant is (100 Jobs worth) Mr Patnekar.Previously we had Digamber Kamat (BJP), Monseratte, Churchill SGF /UGDP.
New " dynastic kids on the block "like Valanka, Yuri, Rudolf ,Roy Naik will most likely contest as Independents only to merge with the Congress at a later date.They join the Congress Party not because of Principles or Policy or even idelogy....but to milk Goa of all its assets.