MARGAO: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has firmly rebutted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assertions about citizens obstructing government projects. Alemao said that the resistance of Goans is justified against projects that are detrimental to their interests. Alemao criticized the Chief Minister’s characterisation, highlighting the Opposition’s stance as a defence against projects favouring crony capitalists over the well-being of the local populace.
Yuri remarked that Goans have consistently embraced projects that genuinely serve the needs and interests of the local population.
Yuri levelled serious accusations against the BJP, citing Atal Setu, Kala Academy, National Games Infrastructure, and Smart City projects as ‘monuments of corruption’, alleging that they were designed to deplete the State treasury while enriching BJP stakeholders. “It is the fundamental responsibility of the government to ensure transparency and gain the trust of citizens. It’s imperative to consult and involve all stakeholders in project proposals. But the BJP government, over the past 11 years, has had a track record of deliberately pushing projects of substandard quality to facilitate hefty kickbacks to BJP stakeholders by obliging contractors,” Yuri alleged.
Congress governments in the past always respected the sentiments of Goans and scrapped three SEZ Projects and Regional Plan bowing before people’s power, he stated.
The LoP further said that the BJP government spent almost Rs 1,500 crore on Panaji’s Smart City project, Rs 75 crore on repairs of Kala Academy, Rs 1,000 crore on the National Games and Rs 700 crore on Atal Setu. But the quality of work was dismal, resulting in the tin sheets at Fatorda’s Nehru Stadium blowing away, the collapse of the facade of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, potholes on Atal Setu, the collapse of the slab at Kala Academy and so on, Yuri noted.
Yuri launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, accusing its National Highway projects of claiming the lives of numerous innocent Goans. He highlighted the tragic toll of these projects, citing hundreds of fatalities as a result. Additionally, Yuri criticised the government’s handling of the Electricity Department, noting that despite a substantial investment of Rs 12,000 crore, 65 people and 17 animals lost their lives due to electrocution.
“The BJP should take lessons from the verdict of the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
