PORVORIM: Frustrated over repeated instances of few NGOs stalling development by approaching courts, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane launched a scathing attack on NGO Goa Foundation, the petitioner in tiger reserve case before the High Court, calling them ‘fraud’ and ‘pain for the state of Goa’.
“Are you understanding…we, the members of this House, that this Goa Foundation is a pain for the State of Goa? They are destroying every bit of Goa. They are imposing obstructive polices in the progressive State like Goa. They ought to stall the development of progressive State. Do we really need such elements in the State,” Rane said on the Floor of the House.
“They are the biggest fraud and they don’t deserve to be in Goa. In fact these NGOs are not from Goa and one need to understand that,” he added.
Rane said that the NGO has a bit to go to court, first it was mining and they stopped it.
Rane went on to warn Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao stating that “these elements, whom you are glorifying today, will haunt you someday.”
“I am openly talking about this on the floor of the House. Do you (Opposition) think such elements need to be supported in the House? You belong to a national party and we also but that does not mean a progressive State is put to a halt by such elements,” he said.
He said, “Today we are ruling and they are slamming us…tomorrow you are going to be on this side and they will slam you too. You should make up your mind… don’t glorify these people…these NGOs will haunt you someday…Today you are defending them…tell me tomorrow you might be going to be on this side…tell me one thing, are you going to run the State listening to them?”
Rane said that being elected representatives, it is their duty to legislate and run the State. “We are here to run the government and not because somebody filed a petition in the court because he has got some personal interest. What do you ultimately want to do?
“These are basically fraud,” he commented.
Refusing to take back his words, the Minister said that he did not regret making any such statement against NGO and civil society people.
“I stand by what I am saying and I am not going to take back my words. I am not regretful. If these NGOs want to stand in the election and run the State,” he said.
The Opposition including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas raised strong objections to the Minister’s statement and demanded that he take back his words.
“It is only because of GF that today the State is expected to get a lot of revenue from mining…around Rs 45,000 crore,” Yuri and Vijai said.
“GF is a very respectful NGO and the Minister need to take back his words,” Venzy demanded.
