PANJIM: Congress has stepped up its attack against BJP’s Panjim candidate Siddharth Kuncalienkar with allegations that the tenders in Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Ltd were being issued three to four times the original estimated cost.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar said that the work for restoration, refurbishing and interior design of headquarters which is tendered at the cost of Rs 20 crore was originally estimated at Rs 5 crore.
“In the renovation and refurbishment work which is tendered for Rs 21 crore, the initial and original estimates were Rs 5 crore. That means the tender is issued by more than three to four times. Siddharth should (explain the hike in the tender amount),” he said.
Stating that Siddharth has not issued any clarification or a white paper on his allegations of scam, Girish said, “I would like to inform Siddharth that instead of Rs 35 lakh for the zebra crossing in Panjim, give me the same money and I will paint all the zebra crossings across the state in half the money.”
He demanded a vigilance enquiry into the matter.
Girish also accused Kuncalienkar of threatening the people supporting the Congress in the capital in the name of BJP’s national President Amit Shah.
“We condemn the threats and statements being made by Siddarth and demand from the BJP to clear their stand on the way Amit Shah’s name is being used to threaten people of dire consequences,” Girish stated.
He further alleged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is threatening to transfer those government servants whose relatives are supporting and campaigning for Congress candidate in Panjim. “We warn the CM and govt officers to be within the limits and not to misuse the government machinery for the party,” he added.
