TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro slammed Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the BJP-government in Goa, for failing to honour any of its promises made in the March 2012 election manifesto.
Addressing the media Tuesday morning, Faleiro said that Parrikar in the manifesto had made a slew of promises that included pleading with the Central government to grant special status for Goa, rehabilitation of slum dwellers in the State, a housing policy, shifting the casinos from the River Mandovi, amongst others. “All the promises continue to remain on paper even after three years of governance,” he said.
Questioning Parrikar, Faleiro said, “Now that he (Parrikar) has become a Union minister, has he discussed the issue of special status with the Prime Minister? If yes, what was the reaction? In a democracy, we have a right to know.”
He also reminded Parrikar about his assurance to shift the casinos from the River Mandovi once voted to power. “Instead more casinos have been added. This is a disgrace. Parrikar needs to answer to the people of Goa who voted him to power with such a historic mandate,” he commented.
Faleiro said that not only has the government not drawn up any rehabilitation scheme for slum dwellers, it is now engaged in demolishing the slums at Baina where over 200 are likely to be displaced. “These people have to be dealt with in a humane way,” he said.
