PANJIM: A day after launching a scathing attack against the PWD Minister, Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar over the bitumen (tar) scam, Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho sobered down his stand towards the State government. On day four of the Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, he exposed former governments, hinting at the long rule of the Congress-led coalition of selling several lakh sq mtrs of land to different agencies without taking into confidence the people of Goa. 

“The previous governments have taken many wrong decisions. Despite protests in the cabinet meeting, the land rights from Mormugao port to Betul was given to Mormugao Port Trust. No one was taken into confidence. Today we made the victims,” he told the House pointing at the “mistaken decision of the then government.”

The legislator also pointed out that the then Congress-regime had allotted 3 lakh sq mtrs to the Coast Guard when the latter was happy with 1 lakh sq mtrs given during the earlier government. “As Revenue minister, I stopped giving 3 lakh sq mtrs to the Coast Guard because the central agency was happy with one lakh. When Congress came back to power, it gave 3 lakh sq mtrs. Prime land in Mormugao has been given to the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and defense,” he said questioning the wisdom of the Opposition benches in opposing temporary allotment of Quitol land for DefExpo. 

His anti-remarks against his very own party were essentially to extend his support to DefExpo scheduled in Goa shortly. Known to be close to the ruling coalition, in particular the BJP, Godinho explained that the land for DefExpo is temporary. “Why is a noise being made over the DefExpo? Check records and one will find who gave maximum land to the defense. It was the previous governments,” he said spelling a number of advantages Goa will achieve with hosting the international event. 

He also pointed out 36 lakh sq mtrs allotted to private promoters and builders. 

While his speech was pro-government, the Congress MLA however, alleged the government’s failure to prosecute the accused involved in the SEZ scam. He stated that successive governments including the present coalition led by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar failed to nab the ‘big fish’ involved in the major scandal. “Poor Michael Lobo (BJP MLA) is charged with a criminal offense (CRZ NOC case) and I was also made a victim in the power scam case but I came out clean. Why are you protecting the big fish,” he asked.