PANJIM: Independent legislator Naresh Sawal’s performance during the first week of the ongoing monsoon session of the legislative Assembly came as a surprise to everyone when he took the government head-on. The MLA was upset over what he termed as the step motherly treatment meted out to his constituency – Bicholim by the present ruling combination; though he did not spare the previous one as well.
Sawal, who extended his support to BJP-led government after Congress denied him ticket during the March 2012 Assembly election, even went to the extent to say that he ‘regrets’ lending supporting the Manohar Parrikar government.
The legislator, who in past too had expressed his anguish, first time vocal in saying that Bicholim taluka, which has several iron ore mines and brings in a lot of revenue for the State, has been crying for attention, but the successive governments have till date failed to take up its development on a priority.
On day one of the session, during the general discussion on Budget 2014-15, he reeled off a list of long-pending demands, which had not been met till date. “There is no development in Bicholim in the last seven years. The primary health centre, police station, bus stand, fire service are in bad shape…there are seven schools, one higher secondary and one college in my constituency but not a single playground. We had identified a ground, but there is no response from the government,” he said.
He also termed the Budget as ‘unrealistic’ and an exercise to fool the people of Goa, pointing out that BJP’s has not fulfilled its elections promises like removal of casinos from Mandovi River, finalizing Regional Plan 2021, appointing a Lokayukta and State information commissioners.
The post of Goa Lokayukta has been vacant since Justice B Sudarshan Reddy resigned in October 2013 seven months after he was appointed as Lokayukta in March 2013.
Government’s investment policy, speaking about providing 50,000 jobs and bringing in investment of upto 25,000 crore, looked like a big joke, the legislator argued.
His attacks on the present ruling did not end as he also questioned government’s claims on zero tolerance to corruption alleging corruption had increased during the present tenure while demanding to know government stand on mining ban, medium of instruction and garbage treatment plants.
The rattled BJP including the chief minister, very visibly discomfited, tried to counter and ridicule his speech; but Sawal remained cool and refused to be provoked.
