MARGAO: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of trying to shield someone close to him, who may otherwise face action for the grounded vessel Nu Shi Nalini. “The way the Chief Minister is giving statements on the matter, it looks like he is trying to shield someone close to him,” said AAP Goa Convener Elvis Gomes.
He added that the CM was unnecessarily making statements based on wrong advice given to him. “It is very surprising how the Customs and MPT are sought to be insulated from the incident,” he said. Questioning why the Customs which has powers to seize the vessel as well as its cargo is silent on the matter till date, Gomes demanded that the Customs be made to explain to Goans what happened with the ship and who brought it to Goa. He added that it was a fit case for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate why the Customs have not acted in the matter. He said that his party would write to CBI to take up the matter; and that even the Revenue Intelligence could investigate the matter.
“When the CM is saying that the government will not spend any money in salvaging the ship, is he implying that MPT has taken possession of the vessel? If so, we want proof of this,” Gomes said pointing out that till date the Bill of Lading has not been made public. Calling for transparency, he said that all aspects needs to be made known to the public, like who brought the ship to Goa from Kochi, when it arrived at MPT and what MPT did with the vessel since the time it was anchored.
AAP leader Captain Venzy Viegas questioned how a company from Singapore has suddenly appeared in the picture and wanted to know whether MPT has invited that company and would pay its fees. Venzy asserted that death of fish in the area indicates that the toxic naphtha is leaking into the waters and contaminating it. He said naphtha fumes are also being released in the air and that is why some people were complaining of giddiness.
Gomes demanded that all relevant departments including the Mercantile Marine Department be roped in to deal with this crisis and asked that the people of Goa be assured that there will be no explosion on the vessel.
