It’s hardly surprising that BJP is demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations of bribes given to Goa ministers by Louis Berger to secure a contract for the JICA water supply project in 2010 as the Congress was in power then.
The allegations seem to have triggered hectic activity in the BJP camp, with reports of the party preparing to send a delegation led by State president Vinay Tendulkar to Delhi to meet the PM and Home Minister to press for an inquiry. While one can understand the alacrity of the party to embarrass their opponents, it must not forget that it could turn out to be a double-edged sword.
The same American firm has been appointed as technical consultant for the airport project at Mopa by the BJP government, after ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) submitted a report that there was no ‘strong argument’ for a new airport at Mopa in 2007.
In 2013, then CM Manohar Parrikar roped in Louis Berger to repudiate the opinion of ICAO, which is reputed, globally recognized and respected in the aviation industry. It is reported that an amount of Rs 140 million was paid to this firm by the BJP government for a favorable technical feasibility report. Something stinks here.
Why is BJP so keen to push forward the controversial and divisive Mopa airport project, when it was not even on its election manifesto in 2012? Why not wait till the 2017 elections when it could be made an issue? Is the BJP keen to bring it through the back door?
To be fair, the proposed probe should cover all contracts awarded to the firm. The people of Goa are sick of the allegations of corruption. Politicians of the Congress and the BJP in Goa, including top leaders, seem to have benefitted from various projects.
The people of Goa have a right to know the truth and to see that the guilty are stringently punished. Let there be an impartial probe into all the charges. Politics in India is big business. And no party is clean. Let the truth come out.
