What do Michael Lobo’s outbursts actually mean?
While the issue of handing over the management of historic Aguada jail may be debatable, Lobo speaking outside the Cabinet on the agenda proves the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has lost control over his Cabinet colleagues.
The Chief Minister is the leader of the Cabinet, and if I remember what Parrikar said once, “The Ministers are free to give their opinion, but they have to remember, the Chief Minister in himself is the Cabinet.”
That spoke volumes of his control over the Cabinet during his tenure.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
On Wednesday, the State Cabinet witnessed noisy scenes over the proposed “virtual” privatisation of the Aguada jail by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, headed by the Tourism Minister and Chairman Dayanand Sopte.
For the first time, maybe, in history, a Cabinet Minister came out of the meeting and spoke on what transpired inside the conference room.
Normally, the Cabinet meetings are kept secret, no matter the differences between the ministers, but they keep it within the four walls.
Of course, some journalists close to the ministers do get the inside news through “sources”.
However, never a minister has commented on what happened inside on a particular proposal at the Cabinet.
Only once, we remember Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar spoke to the media after Priol MLA Govind Gaude used offensive words against him during the Cabinet, which was chaired by then CM Manohar Parrikar.
But again, this was when Parrikar was battling cancer. Had it been the normal Parrikar, neither Gaude nor Dhavalikar would have guts to use such a tone or language.
Again that spat was about their personal differences, but this case is purely over the agenda.
What do Michael Lobo’s outbursts actually mean?
While the issue of handing over the management of historic Aguada jail may be debatable, Lobo speaking outside the Cabinet on the agenda proves the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has lost control over his Cabinet colleagues.
The Chief Minister is the leader of the Cabinet, and if I remember what Parrikar said once, “The Ministers are free to give their opinion, but they have to remember, the Chief Minister in himself is the Cabinet.”
That spoke volumes of his control over the Cabinet during his tenure.
But today, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant seems to have lost control. He should have either accepted or rejected the proposal and should have informed this at the post Cabinet press conference and not allowed the minister to speak outside.
Agreed, the issue may be of utmost importance, and even though the indirect allegations made by Lobo are cent per cent right, he has to maintain the sanctity of the State Cabinet.
The Chief Minister should have reprimanded both Lobo and Azgaonkar over the issue and dealt with an iron fist. But sadly, what can be said about the CM, whose sole intention is to save his chair and win elections.
The Chief Minister needed to ask Babu Azgankar about the planned “scam” on Aguada jail. Why did he want a private party to manage the historic monument, which can bring in good revenue for the State? If ASI can handle the Fort Aguada and earn Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakhs per day, why can’t the GTDC, an independent body, not do so?
Does this mean the GTDC would also give up all its residencies and the Boat cruises in the future?
The CM also needs to ask Azgaonkar why only “Drishti”? He has given the Lifeguard contract to Drishti, the Beach cleaning contract to Drishti and now the management of Aguada jail also to Drishti?
The CM has to ask Azgaonkar directly what the deal is?
The State government is going through a tough financial crisis, and there are no revenue-generating measures.
Instead of burdening the commoners, the Chief Minister could use such monumental structures to generate more revenue.
