An interesting twist came when CM Dr Pramod Sawant sought to know from the Congress, which was in power between 2007 and 2012, about Rs 82 crore given by the Centre from 2009 to 2012. In all, the State has received Rs 97.80 crore towards the infrastructure development for the National Games from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2019.
“The government is a continuous process… no infrastructural works had begun (during the then Congress tenure). When the funds for the National Games were allotted, at least the work should have begun but the money was not spent on the project, instead it was diverted elsewhere,” Sawant charged to which Congress’ Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco demanded an inquiry.
Some Opposition MLAs were quick to update the CM that current Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar – who was then in the MGP, an alliance partner of then Congress government – was holding the Sports portfolio. To this, Ajgaonkar said the amount was spent for the Lusofonia Games held in 2014.
