Panaji :The BJP-led government's latest 'Jyotirmay' scheme, under which three free LED bulbs are being distributed to citizens, has become a fresh bone of contention between the government and opposition MLAs.
Rohan Khaunte, Vijai Sardesai and Naresh Sawal have threatened to file a writ petition or approach the Lokayukta over the issue, alleging that the scheme is in violation of rules of business of the government. Engagement of BJP workers in the distribution of bulbs programmes has not gone unnoticed either.
The BJP, though, perceives the criticism made by the three independent MLAs, who have alleged a scam, as baseless.
BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar addressing a press conference along with Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker and BJP general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade, on Wednesday, dismissed the allegations as baseless. "Their brains are in their knees," Tendulkar said, refuting the charge made by Khaunte, Sardesai and Sawal that the BJP was taking political mileage through the Central government scheme ahead of the elections.
Maintaining that rates have not been printed on the LED bulb packagings because the bulbs are not for resale, and their distribution is an extension of the Central scheme, Tendulkar said the three MLAs could go to any authority, but wouldn't be able to prove anything. "They are criticizing the scheme because they are scared of the popularity of the scheme," he added.
With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections, all cabinet ministers and ruling MLAs were actively engaged in the distribution of free LED bulbs programmes being conducted in their respective constituencies last week. Defence mininster Manohar Parrikar, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, too, attended many of these programmes.
Kuncalienker and Tanavade justified the participation of BJP workers on the grounds that they were helping expand the reach of the programme.
Tendulkar denied that opposition MLAs were left out of programmes and pointed out that opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane had lauded the initiative.
TOI Goa News
Rohan Khaunte, Vijai Sardesai and Naresh Sawal have threatened to file a writ petition or approach the Lokayukta over the issue, alleging that the scheme is in violation of rules of business of the government. Engagement of BJP workers in the distribution of bulbs programmes has not gone unnoticed either.
The BJP, though, perceives the criticism made by the three independent MLAs, who have alleged a scam, as baseless.
BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar addressing a press conference along with Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker and BJP general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade, on Wednesday, dismissed the allegations as baseless. "Their brains are in their knees," Tendulkar said, refuting the charge made by Khaunte, Sardesai and Sawal that the BJP was taking political mileage through the Central government scheme ahead of the elections.
Maintaining that rates have not been printed on the LED bulb packagings because the bulbs are not for resale, and their distribution is an extension of the Central scheme, Tendulkar said the three MLAs could go to any authority, but wouldn't be able to prove anything. "They are criticizing the scheme because they are scared of the popularity of the scheme," he added.
With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections, all cabinet ministers and ruling MLAs were actively engaged in the distribution of free LED bulbs programmes being conducted in their respective constituencies last week. Defence mininster Manohar Parrikar, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, too, attended many of these programmes.
Kuncalienker and Tanavade justified the participation of BJP workers on the grounds that they were helping expand the reach of the programme.
Tendulkar denied that opposition MLAs were left out of programmes and pointed out that opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane had lauded the initiative.
TOI Goa News
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