PANJIM: The Congress Party on Thursday sought a public apology from ruling BJP for misleading the State and Goans with blatant lies on “mining scam”, after Party President Girish Chodankar exposed how the government authorities itself have admitted of “no Rs 35,000 crore scam”.
Addressing the media persons, Chodankar produced letters from Prime Minister’s Office and State Government Public Grievances Cell that clearly clarified that Rs 35,000 crore mining scam never happened in the State.
“Not only Congress Party suffered due to this report-which maligned us, but more than three-lakh mining dependents have suffered since last nine years after then chief minister Manohar Parrikar took steps for closure of mining activities. Hence, now dare Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and BJP party to make public the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), if it exists, public before Zilla Parishad elections.” Chodankar said.
He said that it is unfortunate that Parrikar adopted the unethical tactic of “Politricks”, to create public resentment against the then Congress government headed by Digambar Kamat. “The BJP also played with sentiments and emotions of Goa. The BJP must now apologies for misleading Goans with blatant lies for gaining political mileage,” he demanded.
Chodankar also said that the PAC report was never tabled in Goa Assembly as it was “non” existing.
The Congress president claimed that during then Kamat-led government, the State liability was mere rupees seven thousand crores, which under BJP’s rule has touched 26 thousand crore.
“Manohar Parrikar shut mining activities for his selfish purpose. He wanted to hand over the industry to crony capitalist friends of Narendra Modi. This led to collapse of economy. The BJP should take the responsibility for mining shutdown, economy collapse and of all failures,” he demanded. He also said 2G Scam, Coal Scam and Mining Scam used to defame Congress, helped BJP to win the elections.
