Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Several Congress workers and leaders, including Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar and MP Viriato Fernandes, were detained in Panaji during their protest against the cash-for-jobs scam.
The protesters laid siege to the road, after which they were detained by the police.
Congress has demanded the resignation of CM Dr. Pramod Sawant and the establishment of an impartial judicial commission.
GPCC Chief Amit Patkar said that Goa police are the puppets of the Chief Minister and that CM has kept Goa at number 1 in terms of unemployment.
“The BJP government is playing with the youth of Goa. BJP ministers, along with functionaries, are involved in this scam,” said Patkar
He also informed that they demand a white paper on current vacancies in the government and a judicial inquiry.
Patkar said that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should come clear on recruitment through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
“Youth are confused whether they have to approach ‘agents’ for a job or they will be recruited through the SSC. Sawant should come clear as to whether the government will recruit youth through SSC”
He also said that the government should release a white paper on the number of vacancies in various government departments, the number extensions etc.
Patkar alleged that a policeman in the chief minister’s security convoy has reportedly paid Rs 5 lakh to one of the accused in the cash-for-job-scam for a government job for his wife.
South Goa Lok Sabha MP Capt Viriato said that BJP Government treats job scams as a business, selling jobs for cash.
“This ‘Cash for Job’ scam is a form of institutionalized corruption, presided over by the Chief Minister, ultimately harming deserving,” he added
“The state government must resign over this jobs for cash scam. The CM is helming the scam. We are seeking a judicial inquiry. People close to the BJP are being held in the scam,” Patkar claimed.
More than 40 FIRs have been filed in different parts of the state by people alleging cheating in the name of offering government jobs, as per police.
More than 20 people have been detained in this connection, police said.
