MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has come under fire for his U-turn on his statement that double tracking is essential for all States in the country, despite opposing the same while he was in the Opposition.
On November 2, 2020, the then Leader of the Opposition Kamat along with party MLAs and office-bearers had descended on Chandor and extended support to thousands of protestors opposing railway double tracking and coal transportation.
Speaking to reporters at the BJP Panjim office, Kamat said that double tracking is required in all States and in Goa also.
“Double tracking is required in all the States. I stay in Margao and double tracking has been done there. Whatever double tracking has been done is on the railway's property. There are disputes at some places but they will be resolved soon,” he said in a volte face.
On a question related to coal transportation, Kamat said, “Everybody, including the Chief Minister and Environment Minister, have given assurances that coal expansion will not be allowed. There is no point in discussing the issue repeatedly. You cannot survive with
negativity. You can only move ahead with positivity. For some time you fall prey to the people.”
Environmentalist and Convenor of Rainbow Warriors, Abhijit Prabhudesai said, "When Kamat was in the Congress we showed him, like all other MLAs, all the facts regarding the double tracking. He expressed his shock and he told us that the BJP government is out to destroy Goa and he will never allow the double tracking to take place. He joined us in the agitation."
"However, the Supreme Court also has made it clear that the double tracking is only for transportation of coals. Now after all of this, Kamat's statement clearly shows that he is completely against Goa and the interest of all Goans. Kamat is not just a traitor to his voters but the traitor to this land also," he said.
Creson Antao, Convener, Goencho Ekvott, said, ''Digambar Kamat has betrayed people. He has gone to all gods and betrayed Goans. How can we trust him? Wherever he goes, he wants power. If he wants to become minister he will say whatever he wants. Earlier in the Assembly he had asked why we require doble tracking. Now he has gone to the other side and changed his statement."
"Now God will decide what to do. When they are in power they want to enjoy everything. When we protested at Chandor, he was saying that double tracking is not needed. Now what can you expect from a person who has ditched all gods," Antao said.
Sabita Mascarenhas said, "Double tracking is essential for them because they will get something out of it. They want these projects to get a percentage. When in BJP they are saffron and white when in Congress. When they were in Congress, they were fighting against the double tracking and now saying that it is essential," Mascarenhas said.
Diana Tavares, a grassroot activist from Verna and apart of the peole's movement agaunst Double tracking said ''What was Digambar Kamat doing on November 2, 2020 at Chandor when we were protesting against the double tracking? Along with more than 4,000 people he was saying that he did not want double tracking. He is a traitor then."
"After that incident, the central government as well as the state government filed cases against us just because we were on the railway tracks and he was part of it. Though FIRs have not been registered against him but he was part of the protest", Tavares added
