Cong slams BJP Goa Prez over his statement against LoP

Panaji, April 3 : The Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa t president Sadanand Shet Tanavade over his allegations against newly-appointed Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Michael Lobo. Addressing party workers last Friday, Tanavade had alleged that Lobo, who quit BJP before elections, had made money while being a minister in the BJP government and he had been appointed Leader of Opposition as he could spend money. Taking a dig at the Congress, he had said that the person, who joined the party before 15 days of elections, was made leader of Congress Legislature Party. Reacting to the statement, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Media Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar termed the statement as baseless and said the BJP leader should speak on issues concerning people and corruption. ”Mr Tanavade should speak on corruption, unemployment, job scams, and three linear projects. Even former Governor Satya Pal Malik had openly made statements on corruption prevailing during his tenure. There is a huge problem with the Mopa airport project as farmers’ land have been acquired but compensation not given. There are issues of roads, water, anganwadi teachers, primary teachers, among others. Rather than making baseless allegations he should speak on issues concerning people,” Panjikar told . ”Yes, he is rich as he is a businessman but he pays income tax. He has his own business. Every person has the right to be rich in this country by doing business. The statement is baseless. By making the statement, the BJP leader has accepted that people were making money when the BJP government was in power. Why did they allow people to make money? It means there was no control over ministers and officers,” he pointed out. The Congress leader said the BJP leader should speak on rising fuel prices. ”He should speak about inflation and rising prices of petrol, diesel and gas which has affected the common man. What is the secret behind fuel prices being increased daily by 80 paise the BJP must explain,” he said. The Congress has recently made a rejig in its state leadership. Lobo, a former state minister who quit BJP before assembly elections held in February, has been appointed Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly while Amit Patkar has been appointed President of the Goa t of the party. AKM GK