Team Herald
MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar found himself in the middle of a controversy after his staff allegedly displayed arrogance and a sense of ‘VIP’ entitlement after being caught breaking traffic rules by a citizen.
The incident has gone viral on the social media and has got hundreds of Goans criticising Tawadkar and his staff for their behaviour.
According to photographer Edric George from Fatorda, he was on his way to Panjim on the Verna bypass road on Friday morning at around 10.15 am when he was overtaken by Tawadkar’s official car.
“In the mirror of my car, I noticed the driver hadn’t worn his seatbelt. Little ahead, the car had to slow down because of speed-breakers I drove next to his car and in Konkani asked the guy sitting next to the driver – Ramesh Tawadkar was seated behind – if the seatbelt rule didn’t apply to them guys. The guy in front replied in Konkani that it doesn’t apply to them. So I asked for his name. He replied arrogantly, ‘Write it down, Pramod Devidas SG408’,” said George.
George criticised what he called was the arrogance of elected representatives and in a message to Tawadkar, said that instead of sitting behind and smiling, the minister should have apologised and told his driver to wear the seatbelt.
George shared this incident on the social media and got tremendous response. Netizens have called for people to stand up against VIP culture and confront the ministers who act in this manner.
Herald has confirmed that Pramod Devidas is a security guard for Tawadkar.
