CBI questioning on accountability,not corruption, says Parrikar
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 16
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar today said that he was being questioned by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the IFFI scam on the issue of accountability and not corruption.
Addressing the inaugural function of ‘Indian Corporate Week’ in the city today morning, Parrikar said that CBI in its two-hour-long interrogation had questioned why there was a delay in giving the work order for dredging of Mandovi River.
“CBI officials were also questioning why files were passed on various works expeditiously. They were actually questioning me on accountability and not on corruption,” he said.
Parrikar has been accused of financial misappropriation while creating infrastructure for hosting the IFFI in 2004 during his Chief Ministership.
The former chief minister said that the investigating officers (CBI) were actually surprised with the pace of files that were moved to construct infrastructure for IFFI in 2004.
“The whole infrastructure was ready within six months and that is what amazed them,” he said adding that within 24 hours time the file for the infrastructure was moved from my office to the other.
Parrikar stated that during the interrogation they (CBI) asked me only one question and rest of the time I was questioning them, he said.
The ‘Indian Corporate Week’ with a theme ‘Sustainable Business and Good Governance’ is jointly organised by Registrar of Companies, Goa in association with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), Goa Chapter and Institute of Charted Accountant of India (ICAI), Goa Branch.
The former chief minister said that State government has missed its unrealistic target of Rs 1,200 crore as Additional Revenue Mobilisation (ARM) for the current fiscal.
“In last five years Rs 1,200 crore was expected by the government through additional revenue mobilisation but hardly they had touched the figure of Rs 50 crore,” Parrikar said adding that the relief that they got after charging export duty ad valerem on the iron ore.
“Thanks to the Central government who amended the Royalty Act and the mines exports came to 10 percent of the declared value of the mineral instead of earlier declared royalty of Rs 13 and Rs 27,” he said adding that suddenly there was a windfall from that sector to the tune of Rs 480 crore.
Pointing that the corporates have to go to ethical deficits, Parrikar urged that the officers should start thinking like trustee of the corporates. “Once you start thinking that way, all the aspects would be in place, you don’t have to be told to be sensitive to environment or ethical,” he said.
GCCI President Cesar Menezes addressing the gathering said that companies in Goa need to think about environment impact especially being the leaders in tourism industry.
“Goa is one state which is known for less pollution and less environment hazards … If we lose this image tourists will turn away from Goa,” he said.
Menezes appealed the industries to take a step forward in preserving and conserving environment in the State. “There is no point in making just money if we can’t serve our people,” he said.
Noted industrialist Dattaraj Salgaocar was the guest of honour.
S K Gupta, Registrar of Companies, Swatee Rane, Chairperson of ICSI, Ashish Prabhu Verlekar, chairperson of ICAI and Varun Sood, Managing partner, Capvent AG, Switzerland were also present.
