31 May 2020  |   05:38am IST

Law of the land needs to be respected by all in letter and spirit: Kamat

Says despite not being indicted by any authority, still was made to pass through ‘Agnipariksha’
Law of the land needs to be respected by all in letter and spirit: Kamat

Team Herald

PANJIM: A day after Goa Lokayukta rapped the BJP-led government for its inaction against former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and two others in the alleged illegal mining lease renewal matter, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said the “law of the land needs to be respected by all in letter and spirit”. 

Kamat, who is been chargesheeted for the alleged illegal mining scam worth Rs 35,000 crore, said that despite he not being indicted by any authority, still was made to pass through “Agnipariksha”. 

“Every action has a reaction. I was not indicted by any authority, still I was made to pass through ‘Agnipariksha’,” he tweeted. 

“The law of the land needs to be respected by all in letter and spirit. Truth always prevails,” he tweeted further. 

Kamat, the former chief minister has been charged with illegal mining based on Justice M B Shah Commission report on the illegalities and irregularities in mining sector from 2007-2011. 

The report, however, had not named Kamat, but had indirectly castigated the former Chief Minister, who was holding the powers during that period of investigation. 

Goa Lokayukta P K Misra in a special report submitted to Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday has slammed Dr Pramod Sawant-led government for rejecting his report and recommendation of registering FIR against Parsekar, former Mines Secretary Pawan Kumar Sain and Director Prasanna Acharya, for alleged renewals of 31 mining leases on a single day of January 12, 2015. 

Lokayukta said “If the act were not abuse of position”, then “God alone can save the State”. 

Meanwhile, Goa Foundation, the complainant, has welcomed Lokayukta’s move to file special report before the Governor. The director Claude Alvares said it intends to pursue the issue to its logical conclusion. 


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar