* Setback for Vishwajit as he follows directions of superiors but not before exposing Jit Arolkar
* Onus on Jit now to prove he did not go to Vishwajit to get land converted
* Deafening silence from Sudin Dhavalikar, Jit’s party leader or MGP president Deepak
Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The past whole week has seen a political drama over the Pernem Zoning issue which finally culminated with the TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane announcing that the plan will be kept in abeyance.
While teh zoning plan has always been questionable, it has now brought to fore the murky deals of the politcians not just the ones who ideate or execute such plans but also those who oppose it – for vested interest.
We call it vested interest as Vishwajit Rane with uplomb has exposed Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar stating “the MLA was opposing the plan only because he did not agree to his illegal request of converting 1 lakh sq mt of land.”
Vishwajit has also thrown the file to media, but shockingly, none of the media present there had a glanced over the file.
Shocking even is that nobody even questioned Jit whether he requested such a “deal” at Vishwajit’s house.
Jit has answered all questions except for this allegations.
Will take people into confidence…
Another issue is that the plan is still not scrapped and like teh Regional Plan 2021, it is in abeyance.
“The zoning plan of Pernem will be kept in abeyance. We will take people into confidence. I have held a discussion with CM and central leadership. The plan has been kept in abeyance after discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” said Rane.
He further said that the people of Pernem will be taken into confidence before finalising or going ahead with any plan.
“The people should not feel that we are bypassing them and going ahead with any plan. We want to keep it transparent. Some people come up with anything just for political gains,” he added.
Rane has said that this plan was never to be prepared by taking in vested interests on board but we will be taking the people into confidence.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) based Pernem zoning plan prepared by the TCP Department had evoked mixed reactions in the Pernem taluka with the local MLA Arolkar and other activists alleging that it was drafted mainly to benefit builders and the real estate lobby rather than the people and had demanded to scrap it.
Abeyance? Not acceptable, says Jit
Mandrem MLA, hurt badly after Vishwajit’s allegation, has now decided to take the bull by its horns and said he would not be satisfied with anything short of scrapping of plan.
“We are not against development, in fact we welcome it. but, it should be in the interest of the local community. Our lands are for our future generations and to keep them intact, this draft zoning plan should be cancelled,” said Arolkar.
Arolkar further says the government should work out a new plan by taking into account local sentiments and their suggestions.
“The agitation will continue until the current plan is scrapped,” said Arolkar.
Political drama is this?
While Jit Arolkar has gone berserk on the government in which his party MGP is a alliance partner and enjoys a cabinet berth and a Corporation, the silence from party leaders is deafening or confusing?
There are two dimensions to this whole issue one – CM Dr Pramod Sawant using Jit Arolkar to cut Vishwajit Rane to size or Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar using Arolkar to remind Sawant and the BJP that they do exist ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Manoj Parab bursts Jit bubble…
At meeting in Pernem, Revolutionary Goans president Manoj Parab gave a mouthful to the Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar questioning whether “he was waiting for a muhurat”?
Parab was reacting to Arolkar’s statement that he would move out of the government if uit does not scrap Zoning plan.
“What are you waiting for muhurat to step out of this government? What stops you from doing it now? he asked Jit Arolkar who was sitting on the dais.
Parab also said that MGP & Jit were elected in Mandrem only because it was opposing BJP.
“This is an unholy alliance and Jit must show the people he is with them on the issue,” he said.
