New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP-led government in Goa of Rs 304.24 crore scam, alleging that public funds were misappropriated and contracts were given to private entities without a competitive bidding process.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, in a statement, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that his "Fight against Corruption" is actually a "Fight for the Corrupt," with his own government in Goa serving as a prime example of this empty rhetoric.
"A Rs 304.24 crore scam in public funds where private players were awarded more than 20 projects without competitive bidding has looted the people of Goa," he alleged.
Khera alleged that BJP has created a cabal of ‘Mini-Adanis’ in Goa, who benefit through favouritism in awarding plum contracts, openly demolishing every rule of the procurement manuals and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
The Senior Congress leader claimed that there would be "No ED, No CBI, No IT, No CVC" investigations as these ‘Mini-Adanis’ supply the oxygen of power to the BJP in ravaging a state rich in natural resources.
Giving some instances, Khera accused the "BJP’s Goa government of awarding a Rs 47.18 crore Smart Water Supply IoT Project under the Jal Jeevan Mission to a vendor, without any normal open bidding".
He further alleged that "A total of Rs 148.66 crore worth of PWD works were carried out without bidding and only on nomination basis; a Rs 9.17 crore contract for highway consultancy was awarded without an open selection process, and a Rs 4.56 crore animal feed purchase was given to a Maharashtra PSU without a tender.
Slamming the PM for focusing solely on promoting fight against corruption through podcast, Khera questioned, "Why has PM Modi, who is on a PR-spree through podcasts, emphasising his ‘fight against corruption and leakages’ conveniently blindsided the massive corruption happening under the nose of the BJP-led Pramod Sawant Government?
Why is this loot of Goans being allowed? Who are these Mini-Adanis who have been time and again being freely awarded government contracts, bypassing the rulebook?"
He alleged, "Just as you, PM Modi promoted Adani at the national level, now you are nurturing ‘Mini-Adanis’ in Goa? Will any action ever being taken against the CM, Ministers and BJP politicians involved in this cabal to promote a distinct lobby of Mini-Adanis in Goa?"
UNI RBE CS