Team Herald
VASCO: Science and Technology minister Alina Saldanha on Saturday said that being divested of the Environment and Forests portfolio was a blow to her. In a statement the minister said since her induction into the cabinet on June 8, 2012 she had worked sincerely and upheld the law where her portfolio was concerned.
She said, “I have allowed that which was permissible as per the law and I have raised objections to that which went against the principle of protection and conservation of the environment and forest. Today, nearly three-and-a-half years later, I am being divested off my portfolios. This is a blow to me because I have worked sincerely and responsibly and considered protection of the environment my main responsibility. I have not resorted to any illegalities or foul play. If I have been strict then, Matanhy Saldanha (her husband) would have been a hundred times tougher. Would the BJP treat Matanhy the same way?”
Alina further stated, “It is imperative to remember that in February 2012, Matanhy joined BJP because he believed it was a party with zero tolerance towards corruption. His joining the party tilted the scales towards the BJP in the South.”
Matanhy then won the elections from Cortalim, got inducted into the cabinet as Tourism minister, Environment and Forests but passed away 12 days later. “The people of Cortalim constituency then turned to me to fill the void. The BJP representatives, too, came to convince me, and I gave in. I was delighted to be given the portfolios of Forest and Environment, which were closest to Matanhy’s heart,” she said.
According to Alina, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar met her at his Altinho residence on October 3 and informed her that the Environment and Forests portfolios were being taken away as BJP workers, colleagues and MLAs were unhappy with her as she did not listen.
She said she had explained to Parsekar that some projects could not be passed as they were contrary to the law, and Parsekar agreed that development cannot be at the cost of nature.
She stated it is the chief minister’s prerogative to select the members of his cabinet and assign portfolios. She added, “However, when a portfolio is allotted and then withdrawn, the concerned individual must know what is lacking in her or him with respect to the portfolios.”
Alina stated she will continue to serve the people of her constituency and Goa at large through the portfolios allotted to her.
