Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: BJP Goa President Damu Naik on Monday held a crucial meeting with Minister for Sports and Tribal Welfare Govind Gaude, following the latter’s controversial bribery allegations directed at the Tribal Welfare Department.
The meeting comes amid rising political attention over Gaude’s public remarks that hinted at corruption within his own government.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Naik said he had heard Minister Gaude’s side of the story but clarified that no action would be taken at the state level for now.
“There is no functioning state committee at the moment, so we are not in a position to take any decision here,” Naik said. “We will compile a report based on today’s meeting and forward it to the party’s central leadership in Delhi. The decision on this matter will come from Delhi.”
Gaude’s comments have stirred controversy within political circles, with several voices questioning the implications of a sitting minister publicly casting doubts on his own department’s integrity.
BJP insiders say the central leadership is likely to assess both the political and administrative implications before arriving at a decision.
Minister Govind Gaude had clarified that his recent remarks at the Prerana Divas event were misinterpreted by sections of the media, emphasizing that he has never spoken ill of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and considers him a “good friend.”
“My statement was misinterpreted. I have never said anything wrong about the CM. We share mutual respect, and I’ve already spoken to him personally about the matter,” Gaude had said, addressing the controversy that arose following his comments during the event.
Gaude also had added that he met the Chief Minister to explain the context of his remarks, which were made while reiterating long-standing demands of the United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA), an organization advocating for the rights of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community in Goa.
