Team Herald
PANJIM: Alleging involvement of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)) functionaries in the cash-for-job scam, the opposition Congress Party on Saturday demanded inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act headed by a retired High Court Judge, fearing manipulations by the Goa police.
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Demanding that the government should come clear on the job scam, Patkar said the government should release a white paper on status of employment in the State. He alleged that the vacant posts are filled through contracts while, the government was granting extension in service to some of the ‘favourite’ officers in PWD and WRD. The government is yet to fill posts through Goa State Selection Commission and was playing with the future of the unemployed educated youth.
Speaking to reporters Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar alleged that queen-pin Deepashree even received Rs 5 lakh from a constable attached to the Chief Minister’s convoy, assuring him to provide a job to his wife.
Patkar also played an audio clip wherein it was claimed that queen pin was heard talking to a job aspirant and added that he will give the audio clip to the police for verification and inquiry.
He also produced photo copies of some of the appointment letters signed by government officers even as they appeared to be forged. He said that these government officers who signatures are there on the appointment letters should file police complaints for forging their signatures.
On Monday, the Opposition party will submit a petition to the Governor in connection with the cash-for-government jobs scam.
Aldona MLA, Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “There are BJP functionaries who are clearly involved in cash-for-job scam. It cannot happen without their connection and blessings. There are multiple players involved. How come this job racket was not known to the government intelligence?” He also demanded to know how could Bicholim police let off another queen-pin Pooja Naik after a verbal warning, that too when the Chief Minister had asked his staff to hand her over to the police four months back.
Pro-active approach of Sawant govt unearthed job scam: BJP
PANJIM: Refuting the allegation made by the Opposition parties in cash-for-government-job scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday stated that it was only due to proactive approach of the Sawant government that people have come forward with their complaints against the cheaters.
Speaking to reporters, BJP State spokesman Adv Yatish Naik said, “When the first FIR was registered and after the Chief Minister’s pro-activeness the people have come forward and filed complaints. This means the firmness of the government in taking action against the conmen has given confidence to the people who had been cheated.”
Adv Naik said that the State government is interested in complete investigation. Let the investigation be done.
Another BJP spokesman Giriraj Pai Vernekar has refuted allegations made by AAP over cash for job scam and urged AAP not to blame the State government. “People should file complaints against job scamsters. The chief minister has assured that nobody will be spared. It is Sawant government which has set up Goa Staff Selection Commission with an aim to provide jobs on merit and in a transparent manner.
Rane refutes Cong charges of issuing fake appointment letters
PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday directed the heads of departments to take immediate and stringent action against the circulation of alleged fake work orders after Congress released some documents allegedly linking them to ongoing cash-for-job scam.
The documents were connected with Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, Health, Forest, Urban Development and Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA).
Denying the charges of issuing fake appointment letters levelled by the Congress, Rane said that the forgery of government officials’ signatures is a criminal offence and has instructed all department heads to file FIRs against individuals involved in producing and distributing these fraudulent documents. A formal request will be submitted to DGP Alok Kumar and the Cyber Crime division to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Congress president Amit Patkar, he said.
Reacting to it, Patkar claimed that the copy of document with alleged fake signature of a former director sent by the Minister to media, are not the ones which he had shown during his press conference.
“This exposes that he (Minister) too possesses documents tied to the #BJPSaleOfJob Scam! Why has he (Rane) kept these fraudulent papers hidden until I exposed them today? This is nothing less than a self-goal or a desperate attempt to cover up his own guilt of the fraud done by @BJP4Goa.” Patkar posted on his X handle.
