PORVORIM: PWD Minister and MGP leader Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Friday took a dig at the Digambar Kamat government, of which he was a part, alleging that the former Chief Minister was overruled by a few of his cabinet colleagues due to which the government was riddled with corruption and inefficiency.
Dhavalikar, who was a cabinet minister in the former Congress-led government, told the Legislative Assembly that ministers, including the then Home and PWD Ministers, were bullying the decision of the Cabinet.
“I was bound by oath that affairs in the cabinet should not be discussed in public by a minister. That is the reason why I was quiet all this while, but now I am exposing it on the floor of the House,” said Dhavalikar, while speaking on the no confidence motion moved by the opposition against the Laxmikant Parsekar government.
Dhavalikar said some ministers in the Kamat-led government disrespected administrative rules. “There was a complete administrative collapse. Ministers like Home and PWD never allowed the then Chief Minister to function. His decisions were always restricted. This was the scene in every cabinet meeting,” Dhavalikar said.
The minister, censuring the opposition for moving the no confidence motion, told the House that when Manohar Parrikar took over in 2012, the government had a liability of Rs 1,500 crore in the form of pending bills. “We paid all the bills. The era of development began during BJP-led government’s tenure,” he said informing the House that as far as PWD and Transport are concerned, projects worth Rs 3250 crores have been sanctioned while funds of almost Rs 3800 crore have been approved. “Works worth Rs 12,000 crore are in pipeline now,” he added.
The minister said, “It is not necessary that all the things which are promised in the manifesto should be completed.”
