Team Herald
MARGAO: It is not just the Margao MLA, but the Margao civic chief too who is under pressure. Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson Arthur D’Silva’s connection to the Louis Berger and JICA bribery case has drawn sharp reactions from Civil Society, and even a demand for his resignation on moral grounds.
As the attention drifted from Margao MLA and former chief minister Digambar Kamat to D’Silva, Civil Society members demanded an Income Tax department investigation into the ‘riches amassed by the chairperson’ and an investigation into his JICA connection. They also reminded the council chairperson of his promise to resign if any corruption is seen in the council. D’Silva was questioned by Crime Branch for two hours on Tuesday in the JICA bribery case.
Mocking the chairperson for being a courier service provider to the Margao MLA, activist Croydon Meidera said, “The MMC chairperson has brought international shame to the MMC and we request the Crime Branch to raid his places to find out how he got so rich.”
“The MMC chairperson used the Council meet stage to exhibit his innocence in the case. The fact that MLA Digambar Kamat chose only Arthur to give and get the RTI means that the chairperson has played some role in the JICA matter,” said Margao resident Nelson Fernandes.
Civil Society has expressed hope that Crime Branch will dig deep into the matter and get at the truth.
