Poinguinim ZP member accuses Tawadkar of pressurising her to execute works of school

MARGAO: Poinguinim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member, Shobhana Velip on Monday accused Canacona MLA and Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar of pressuring and threatening her for carrying out works of a school using through the ZP funds, as Tawadkar was 

allegedly associated with the school. 

Speaking at the ordinary meeting of South Goa Zilla Panchayat, Velip further alleged that the MLA had threatened to disqualify her as the ZP member if she failed to carry out the aforesaid works.

However, Tawadkar refuted the allegations and said that somebody was trying deliberately to defame him as the person was jealous of his rise in the political arena. “During one of the programmes held in Cotigao pertaining to women empowerment, the MLA threatened to disqualify me as the ZP member. The MLA did not give any respect to me despite being a ZP member. He is even creating hurdles in issuing letters pertaining to works related to public welfare,” Velip said.

“Apart from this, he is also pressuring me to carry out works related to one of the schools with which the MLA is closely associated,” she further alleged. 

Reacting on the issue, Chairperson of South Goa ZP, Suvarna Tendulkar said, “As per the request from Canacona MLA, it was agreed to go ahead with the school’s work. Even Shobhana Velip had given a green signal to it. Hence, there is no point in accusing the MLA of pressuring her.” She said that the ZP members have not filed any complaint before her on the issue and the ZP has not yet finalised anything regarding carrying out the aforesaid work.

However, MLA Ramesh Tawadkar said that someone was working behind the scenes and using the ZP member to defame him by levelling false allegations against him. 

He said that Velip had got elected as a ZP member with the support of BJP, but she has always refrained from participating in the party works. 

“I have initiated and completed several development works of huge amounts. Pressuring a ZP member for executing work of just 

Rs 5 lakh is not my habit,” he said. 

The MLA said that ZP members are not at all actively involved in the party activities. “She must be frustrated for not being invited to the recently held Lokutsav,” Tawadkar said.