Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) today released an audiotape wherein a person is heard seeking a donation of Rs 44 lakhs for a contract. The opposition claim that the voice is of BJP MLA Dayanand Sopte.
In the alleged audio clip, a voice similar to Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte demands a donation of Rs 44 lakhs and an advance of Rs 3 lakhs for a contract from a contractor.
“Mandrem BJP MLA Dayanand Sopte had imposed ‘Sopte Tax’ on anyone doing business in the coastal constituency. Sopte is busier in collecting these taxes from the businessmen than concentrating on development,” alleged GPCC President Girish Chodankar.
He further said the person demanding Rs 44 lakh from a contractor as the donation was Sopte.
“We term it as ‘Sopte tax’ and demand that inquiry is held into this expose. People will teach him a lesson this time for betraying and for indulging in corruption,” said Chodankar.
The GPCC President also claimed that the tape is genuine and has not been tampered with. Girish also claimed that Sopte is busier in collecting these taxes from the businessmen than concentrating on development.
“We will win the Mandrem seat in this assembly election with the help of people who are with us. Now people will bring big changes across Goa.” He said.
Chodankar said that he would release phone conversation audio today at 12.30 pm if Sopte and his supporters failed to admit their crime of harassing people doing business in the coastal constituency.
After the press conference of Chodankar Mandrem, BJP Mandal President countered Chodankar’s claim of Sopte Tax.
Meanwhile, Chodankar has demanded to scrap the ongoing recruitment process within eight days and start fresh involving the Staff Selection Commission under the monitoring of the Hon’ble High Court.
NO BLESSINGS TO BJP Sr Rane says he has no intention of leaving Cong
Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: A day after BJP hinted at the possible induction of senior Congressman Pratasingh Rane’s into the saffron fold, the former Chief Minister ruled out that he was quitting the party.
In a video message released by Congress Party on social media, Rane asserted that he would not leave the congress party.
“News that I am quitting the Congress party is false. It is their (BJP) imagination,” he said.
The denial came a day after BJP Goa Desk Election in-charge Devendra Fadanavis said that “with the blessings of Pratapsingh Rane, Congress would be left as cycle party with only two members.”
Rane further said, “I am not leaving my party; I belong to the Congress party over 45 years.”
“I don’t think at this juncture I would think of quitting the Congress party; I belong to the Indian national congress party,” he added.
The Congress party that emerged as the single largest party in the 2017 election has only three MLAs.
Sopte REFUTES allegations
“Baseless allegations & fake, doctored audio clip by Girish Chodankar only mirrors the frustration of Congress which is foreseeing single digit number in next election. Girish has been on the spree of baseless allegations since last 15 days which he does to grab attention”
Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte