Team Herald
PANJIM: With its Legislative wing leader Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar being investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti-Gambling Act, the Congress on Monday alleged that its MLAs are being targeted by the BJP-led government compelling them to join the ruling dispensation.
“It is very clear that one-by-one our MLAs are been targeted by the government. It is a pressure tactic adopted by the government threatening our MLAs to join them,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Shantaram Naik told media persons.
Naik was indirectly hinting at a series of cases pending involving its MLAs that are being investigated by various authorities. “I don’t have to tell you who are the MLAs being targeted. Everyone knows it,” he said, refusing to name anyone.
Speaking on Kavlekar, Naik said the cases are politically motivated and malicious with ulterior motives. “These are politically motivated actions. Law will take its own course, whether it is in Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti-Gambling Act,” he said.
Stating that the case was pending since 2010, Naik questioned the delay in registering the FIR. “Why did it take so long for the government to register FIR against Kavlekar? Seven long years? Why are so many raids being conducted, when Kavlekar has been cooperating in the case?” he questioned.
The Congress leader sought to know why raids are not being conducted on those BJP leaders who are known as matka bookies. “One of the bookies had even campaigned for Manohar Parrikar in Panjim during the by-election,” he charged.
Naik on Monday met Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma and demanded serious implementation of the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services) Act.
Referring to the Ease of Doing Business concept, Congress demanded that the government amend the Rules of Business of Government of Goa. Naik also demanded that a committee be constituted to examine local acts and rules for carrying out necessary amendments.
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Party organisational poll process begins today
The process for Congress organisational elections will kick off on Tuesday, with filing of nominations for the district committee.
Filing of nominations will be held between 10 am and 1 pm while withdrawals will take place from 2 pm to 3 pm.
The district committee elections will be held on September 27. The South Goa district committee election will take place at the Congress office in Margao from 10 am to 12 pm. For North, the polling will take place from 3 pm to 5 pm in the party head office.
The district committee election will be followed by State Pradesh committee election, wherein the new party president will be also elected.
