Demands probe by CBI, ED into source of Sawant’s funds

Panaji: While slamming the state BJP government for failing to resume mining operations and to protect the interest of the River Mhadei, All India Trinamool Congress MP and TMC’s Goa desk in-charge Mahua Moitra on Friday demanded a CBI and ED probe into the source of funds used by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to secure a mine in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.

Addressing the first press conference as the AITC Goa in-charge, Moitra launched a two-pronged attack against the Sawant government.

When Sawant took over as the Chief Minister, he had said that he would get mining started in three months. It has been three years now and mining has not resumed in Goa,she said.

Releasing a letter from the office of the deputy regional director of Maharashtra, issued on November 7, 2019, the TMC MP said that it clearly showed that Sawant, as the Chief Minister, had got a mine in his name in Sindhudurg district.

“Where did he get the money to lease a mine if he was an Ayurvedic doctor with the government?” she questioned, demanding a CBI and ED probe into the source of funds used by Sawant to secure the mine.

“I would also like the Prime Minister to order a disproportionate assets inquiry against Sawant,” she added.

Moitra also raised the issue of diversion of water from the Mhadei by Karnataka.

“Karnataka got a paltry 7.5 tmc of water diverted. Sawant, upon becoming the Chief Minister, immediately notified this award and Karnataka started getting much more water than it was supposed to. There was a hue and cry in the state assembly, and it was asked as to how an NOC can be given when a special leave petition is pending before the Supreme Court. Sawant came on record to say that the lawyers did this without asking the government. Later, the then AOR and senior counsel Arvind Datar held a press conference and said that Goa officials asked us to give the NOC to Karnataka,” she said.

Alleging that the Chief Minister had acted against the interest of Goans, the TMC leader said that most of the water had been diverted to Karnataka.

“Today, the people of Goa are not getting their due share because Sawant struck a deal with Karnataka,” she charged.