Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, has distanced himself from the recent allegations of corruption in the Tribal Welfare Department made by Minister Govind Gaude. When questioned by the media, Tawadkar made it clear that he would not be responding to the allegations, stating that the issue falls outside his jurisdiction as Speaker. He emphasized that such matters should be addressed by the Chief Minister, the cabinet, and the party leadership, rather than the Speaker of the Assembly.
Tawadkar further pointed out that since Govind Gaude is a minister within the government, any concerns or grievances regarding corruption in his department should have been discussed directly with the Chief Minister or brought up during cabinet meetings. “As Speaker, it is not within my purview to comment on or intervene in such matters. The appropriate forum for these issues is within the government and the party leadership,” Tawadkar said. His comments come amid growing media attention on the allegations, which have sparked calls for greater transparency and accountability within the Tribal Welfare Department. The Speaker’s stance underscores the separation of powers and responsibilities within the state government, and the expectation that ministers address such issues through established channels.