MARGAO: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai has demanded that the CBI, while inquiring into the Louis Berger bribery scandal, record the statements made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. He sought to know why Parrikar had not exposed the scam when the latter knew the details and also questioned his defence of the same company, which was appointed as a technical consultant for the Mopa Airport project.

“I am hopeful that the CBI will conduct an honest and transparent probe without political interference. I want to stress this because Parrikar is already trying to move the inquiry in the wrong direction by pointing fingers,” said Sardessai, while criticizing Parrikar for being vague in his recent statements.

At a press conference on Sunday, Sardessai welcomed Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s statement that he would demand a CBI inquiry into all projects handled by Louis Berger (LB) in Goa. He said, “I welcome the CM’s commitment to a CBI probe and wish that the absolute truth comes out without any interference by any powers at the Centre. Until the probe is completed, all ongoing projects in which LB is involved should be kept on hold. If the State government fails to do so, it will be clear that the probe is only an eye-wash to fool the people of Goa.”

He further said, “I had raised doubts about LB, which is the technical feasibility consultant for the Mopa Airport project. The recent development has cast a dark shadow on the technical feasibility of the airport, and if such a vital aspect of the airport is suspect, the entire project should be halted till the truth about LB and the airport is revealed by the CBI and other agencies. As more skeletons tumble out of the scam-ridden cupboards of the BJP governments in the State and at the Centre, it is up to Goa’s CM to prove his integrity.”

Sardessai added, “I’m not surprised that Parrikar broke his vow on June 20 that he will not speak to the media for six months. I sympathise with his need to make this U-turn as the Louis Berger case exposes his vested interests. The entire State saw the ex-CM defend Louis Berger on the Assembly floor in 2013, when I raised the issue of Mopa’s technical feasibility. His vigour and fervour in their defence were obvious.”

He continued, “I demand that Parrikar’s role in the issue be probed, and the reasons for my demand are many. Firstly, his defence of the firm was unprecedented and obviously strange since a CM was so involved in protecting the reputation of a private American firm. Secondly, as is now known, Parrikar’s government paid Rs 14 crore to LB when the company was black-listed by the National Highway Authority of India for six months.”

“Also, while the FBI’s indictment of LB indicates payment made to one minister, Parrikar seems to know the exact number of ministers and much more about the deal. His source should be examined immediately. If he knew about this earlier, why did he keep quiet? Does it have anything to do with press reports that LB is short-listed for consultancy in the Prime Minister’s ‘Smart Cities’ project? Parrikar’s pathetic attempts to project Goa’s politicians as corrupt and at the same time say LB is clean are exposed by the FBI’s indictment that the company has bribed officials not only in India, but also in Kuwait, Indonesia and Vietnam,” said Sardessai.