TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: At a time when Special Investigating team (SIT) is interrogating those allegedly involved in illegal mining including former Congress Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Congress party in Goa on Saturday categorically stated that the ‘party will not come to the rescue of any of their leaders if found guilty’.
However, Congress also alleged that the summons issued to Kamat and others is nothing but a stunt to divert attention from the Speaker Rajendra Arlekar’s disproportionate assets case, which is being investigated before Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), ahead of the forthcoming Budget session.
“We don’t understand the point in issuing summons when the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. BJP government is making efforts to divert public attention from Arlekar land scam case,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President John Fernandes told reporters.
“Also Congress is firm on its decision not to go to rescue any of the leaders if found involved in illegal mining,” he commented.
Saturday afternoon, former Mines Minister, appeared before the SIT for questioning into the alleged Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam as estimated by Justice M B Shah Commission report.
Along with Kamat, five more government
officials were issued summons by SIT.
Responding to a question, John said that complete ban on iron ore export, as recommended by Commission, is not feasible for mining-rich state like Goa which has developed foreign relations since decades. “Government can think of capping (extraction) but not ban on export. It will lead to huge revenue losses,” he cautioned.
