CM mentioned there was pressure from Nadda: Govind Gaude's claim after ouster from Goa Cabinet
Making a first public appearance since his ouster from the Cabinet, Gaude said at a public meeting, under the banner of Priol Pragati Manch in Goa's Marcel, that he had received a phone call from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the evening of June 18, asking him to resign.
'He mentioned that there was pressure from (BJP national president) J P Nadda. I made it clear that I would not resign, as my fight has always been for the people. Later, the Chief Minister told the media that it was his own decision (to drop me from the Cabinet),' Gaude said.
'Is it wrong if a minister asks for accountability from a department?' he asked.
Gaude, a tribal leader, was sacked from the Cabinet on June 18, nearly three weeks after he alleged corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, a portfolio held by CM Sawant.
The controversy erupted when Gaude made a jibe at the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Ministry at a Prerna Divas event on May 25. In his speech that day, Gaude had said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare Department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled in the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.'
In an hour-long speech on Sunday, Gaude said he would not quit the BJP and that he would continue to fight for the rights of the tribal community. 'I did not join the BJP to resign from the party,' he said.
The legislator from Priol constituency also claimed he was not allowed to meet the party high command in Delhi over the last three-and-a-half years since he joined the BJP in 2022. Gaude said he joined the party without meeting anyone in Delhi since he had 'full faith' in the state leadership. 'After I won and became a minister, I requested to be introduced to the central party leadership. The meeting was never arranged. Now, I am starting to understand why,' he said.
Gaude said he has written letters to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nadda to inform them of the 'happenings in the state'.
'I will also transcribe this speech in Hindi, English and Marathi and send it to leaders in Delhi so that no one creates a wrong narrative,' he said.
Blaming the media for 'misinterpreting' his statements, Gaude asked, 'Does the government take decisions based on media reports?'
Quoting from a book on the life of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Gaude said that when Parrikar was ailing and had been admitted to a hospital in 2019, he called Gaude and told him that he was considering asking MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to lead the Cabinet. Gaude said he opposed the move and suggested Sawant's name.
'At the time, when there was a discussion about who should be the next chief minister, I suggested the name of Dr Pramod Sawant…as he is my friend and former classmate,' said Gaude.
Gaude said he was 'happy' that he was dropped from the Cabinet on June 18 (Goa Revolution Day), saying it felt symbolic as 'my kranti (revolution) has always been about raising the voice of downtrodden people'.
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