PANJIM: With nearly 23 arrests made, and counting, in the Massive Cash for Government Jobs scam and more Queen Pins and scams coming to light by the day, a number of ministers in the Sawant Cabinet are feeling the heat. Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate and Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar have commented about the job scam when confronted by media.
hough Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik said the government is serious about the frauds and police are trying to get to the bottom of the job scam, he also made a very revealing comment. “I have nothing to say about it,” Ravi Naik said at first. But when prodded to comment on the existence of a god father and god mother by the media, he said “not just the godfather, but even the godmother, if there is, will be nabbed by the police.”
Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said complaints filed by victims are a matter of serious concern and ruined the image of politicians. “It is a shame to even attend weddings because people believe that even some MLAs are involved. People’s perception of politicians has changed (after the job scam).”
Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate was of the opinion that both bribe takers and bribe givers should both be booked. “The Government should set up an inquiry under a retired judge to ensure impartial inquiry,” Monserrate said.
The Opposition demanded inquiry under a Supreme Court judge. They said that the entire scam has to be investigated from 2012 and those who got jobs by paying cash also has to be investigated, under Prevention of Corruption Act.
Trajano D’Mello, Political Commentator said, “In the various cash for jobs government jobs cases which are coming up, only Section 420 (cheating) is being applied. There is no angle of corruption, because nobody has been found that he/she has paid the money and got the government job. That angle is not being investigated. And I am shouting from the rooftop, a judicial inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with ace investigating officer should call for the files right from 2012 when the BJP government came to power till date. There you will find whether people were given jobs on merit or other considerations.”