Oppn wants Lokayukta to clarify on justice delivery under toothless Act

PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Saturday demanded that new Goa Lokayukta retired Justice Ambadas Joshi must clarify to Goans how he will give justice to them under toothless Lokayukta Act.
Speaking to reporters at the Congress Office, Panjim, GPCC president Girish Chodankar demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant must reveal whether consent of all the members of the selection panel was taken and make public their views on appointment of new Lokayukta.
The Goa Lokayukta office is run with public money. The salary and all other expenses to the Lokayukta and his staff come from hardworking tax-payers’ money. Justice Ambadas Joshi must clarify to the people of Goa how he will deliver justice to the people of Goa working under the ambit of toothless Goa Lokayukta Act? Chodankar demanded to know.
Stating that the position of Lokayukta is not a ceremonial post and with former Lokayukta Justice P K Mishra directing the BJP government to investigate almost 21 cases of their own government and as many cases pending before Lokayukta, Chodankar said, “It is loud and clear that it will be challenging task before the new Lokayukta to be upright, honest and committed. Justice Joshi must hold a meeting with former Lokayukta Mishra before taking charge.”
Chodankar said, “It is important that the new Lokayukta must come clean on how he will give justice to his own appointment working under the ambit of diluted Lokayukta Act.”
“Justice Joshi must clear his position and explain to the people of Goa on what grounds he has given his consent to accept the post of Lokayukta. Is he coming to Goa to deliver justice or on a paid holiday? It is the right of every Goan to know the answer before he takes charge,” Chodankar demanded.
“We have made it clear that no self-respecting person will accept the post with diluted Lokayukta Act,” he said.
The Congress president has urged Justice Joshi to read and get acquainted with the history of agitations in Goa. He needs to make a choice between upholding his own dignity or hypothecating it to the corrupt BJP government, he said.
Chodankar said it was a slap on the face of BJP government when Justice Utkarsh Bakre refused to accept the post of Lokayukta, which has eventually compelled the government to search for an outsider. The act of Justice Bakre has upheld the self respect and dignity of each Goan, he said.
Chodankar alleged that the Modi government had murdered each and every democratic and independent institutions in the country. The local BJP under Pramod Sawant is taking forward Centre’s agenda to save his chair.
GPCC member James Andrade and Umakant Kudnekar of Tivim were also present.