Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A delegation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by State President Adv. Amit Palekar, met with Hon. Governor Shri P. S. Sreedharan Pillai to demand action on the state’s emerging cash-for-jobs scandal.
The AAP leaders submitted a memorandum calling on the Governor to summon the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s and to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter, which they stated involves BJP officials and insiders.
The AAP delegation included AAP MLAs Capt. Venzy Viegas and Engr. Cruz Silva, Working Presidents Valmiki Naik & Gerson Gomes, Vice-President Roque Mascarenhas, and General Secretary (Campaign) Francis Coelho. The leaders emphasised the critical need for a Judicial Commission to ensure an independent investigation, as well as protection to whistleblowers so that more victims could come forward and expose the true extent of the scam without fear of retaliation.
“The Chief Minister is at the center of this job scam. If the CDR (Call Detail Record) tower location data from the past year of the accused were analysed, we could pinpoint the connections leading up the chain of command,” stated Adv. Palekar. He added, “This scandal is likely implicate BJP MLAs, Ministers, and officials of properly investigated, which explains the CM’s resistance to establishing a Judicial Commission. He is more concerned with preserving his chair than safeguarding justice.”
Palekar highlighted recent evidence suggesting irregularities in police recruitment processes, including discrepancies in the physical standards of newly recruited PSI officers. “If new physical tests were held, some appointees wouldn’t meet the basic fitness criteria. Goa’s government jobs are being sold, and youth futures are being destroyed,” Palekar lamented, urging an immediate halt to all recruitment processes until a transparent hiring system via the Staff Selection Commission is adopted.
Velim MLA Engr Cruz Silva stated that an independent investigation is the need of the hour.
“The BJP leadership cannot brush off these allegations, as the truth is now surfacing with mounting evidence on a daily basis,” he stated.
Adding that it is now clear that Govt jobs are on sale, Silva further demanded that, pending investigation, all appointments that are under suspicion of being secured through unethical means should be suspended.
Benaulim MLA Capt. Venzy Viegas also issued a rallying call for unity among opposition parties.
“The BJP government has become focused solely on cash, whether it’s cash for jobs, cash for land conversion, or cash for transfers. I appeal to all opposition parties to join forces to bring the Govt to account and protect the future of our youth”.
Stating that all the victims need to come forward to expose the full extent of this scam, Viegas demanded protection to the complainants and whistleblowers, so that the investigation is truly independent and the real kingpins and queen pins of the scam are brought to book.
