Team Herald
PORVORIM: Former Minister in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet, Rohan Khaunte’s remark of collecting public funds for building ex-Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar’s memorial at Miramar angered some of the ruling legislators who reminded the House that the project is already undertaken by the GSIDC.
Khaunte also tried to downplay the controversy surrounding the meeting of GFP legislators and him, last Saturday, as he participated in a discussion on the motion of thanks to Goa Governor’s address to the House.
“There have been allegations that we were trying to politicise the issue by holding a meeting at the proposed site for Parrikar’s Samadhi. In fact, no work has started at the site. It is dirty there. It’s been nearly three and half months that government announced their plans to build a Samadhi. The work should begin soon, and if the government is lacking funds I will ask people to donate money,” he told the House.
At this time, CM Pramod Sawant stood up to raise an objection to the independent MLA’s statement denying any delay into the project. “The process is underway,” he said angrily.
Sawant was supported by his cabinet colleagues Deputy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral.
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IND MLA slams political changes
In his address to the House, Porvorim MLA Khaunte hinted his displeasure to the recent political developments that saw 10 ex-Congress MLAs switch to the BJP and later, the sacking of four ministers.
“The last 8-10 days saw changes in the political scenario. Not only Goa but the entire nation has watched,” he said, while reeling off a list of initiatives taken during his tenure as Minister for Labour & Employment, Revenue and IT. He said he supports the govt on policies for the welfare of the people.
The Revenue dept, he added, was the first to start right to time bound services to the people.
On the shifting of the casinos, which was a part of the Common Minimum Programme during the then Manohar Parrikar-led tenure, Khaunte expressed confidence in Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate whose by-poll promise was shifting of casinos from River Mandovi. Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco also took a dig at his former party colleagues who are now sitting in the treasury bench.
