Liberated for choosing truth over power: Govind Gaude
Margao:
Former art and culture minister Govind Gaude issued a defiant statement following his ouster from chief minister
Pramod Sawant
's cabinet on Wednesday. Gaude said he would always choose 'truth over power' and termed his removal as a 'liberation' to voice the struggles of the oppressed.
In his statement on social media platforms, Gaude said: 'There can be no greater honour than to be recognised on Goa Revolution Day for standing with the weak and oppressed. I am grateful to govt and the party for liberating me to give voice to the struggle — the very cause for which govt has taken this stance. When faced with the choice between power and truth, I will always choose truth.'
Gaude's removal from the cabinet stemmed directly from his attack on the tribal welfare department during a Prerna Din function on May 25, where he launched a scathing criticism of the department's administrative efficiency and transparency, and veiled allegations of corruption. The department is under CM Sawant.
Political observers said by terming his dismissal as 'liberation', Gaude has signalled his intention to continue to champion the cause of the tribals despite losing his ministerial position.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
2 hours ago
- Scroll.in
Goa minister removed from Cabinet weeks after alleging corruption in CM's department
Goa minister Govind Gaude was on Wednesday removed from the state Cabinet, three weeks after he made allegations of corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, The Indian Express reported. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant holds the tribal welfare portfolio in the state's Bharatiya Janata Party government. The decision to drop Gaude, the art and culture minister, from the Cabinet was taken unanimously, Goa BJP chief Damu Naik told The Indian Express. 'It was taken after consultations by the government, the party and the party's central leadership,' he was quoted as saying. 'Party discipline is a must.' A gazette notification said that Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai had accepted the chief minister's recommendation to remove Gaude from the Council of Ministers, the newspaper reported. In a social media post, Gaude said that he had been 'rewarded this fate' for standing with the marginalised sections of society on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, which is celebrated on June 18. चिड्डल्या माडल्या लोकांचो पक्ष घेतलो हाची पावती गोंयच्या क्रांती दिसाक मेळप हाच्या परस व्हडले भाग्य आसपाक शकना. जे गजालीक लागून ह्या सरकारान ही भूमीका घेतल्या त्या संघर्शाक आवाज दिवपाक मेकळो केल्या खातीर म्हज्या सरकाराचें आनी पक्षाचें उपकार आटयता. सत्ता आनी सत्य भीतर निवड करपाची… — Govind Gaude (@Govind_Gaude) June 18, 2025 At a state-level function on May 26, Gaude had alleged that the state tribal welfare department was inefficient, and had claimed that its officials were taking bribes in exchange for signing files, PTI reported. Gaude, an Adivasi leader, had also questioned why the construction of a 'Tribal Bhavan' in the state had been stalled, and said that many Adivasis had given up their land for the project, according to The Indian Express. 'The foundation stone was laid when I was the tribal welfare minister,' Gaude had said. 'The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' The BJP leader had claimed that he had been misquoted in the media. However, Sawant had said that action would be taken against him for his 'irresponsible statements', according to The Indian Express. In response to Gaude's allegations, the Congress had urged the governor to dissolve the state government citing 'rampant corruption', PTI reported. Opposition leader Vijai Sardesai said that Gaude had not been removed when there were allegations of corruption against him earlier. 'But, now when he raised allegations of corruption in the tribal department, the government acted against him,' added the Goa Forward Party chief.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Ministers removal from Goa cabinet: Oppn hits out at govt over corruption
Agency: PTI Panaji, Jun 19 (PTI) The opposition parties in Goa have targeted the Pramod Sawant government over alleged corruption after the removal of Art and Culture minister Govind Gaude from the state cabinet. Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The notification issued by state Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas DSilva did not mention the official reason for his sacking. Speaking to reporters late Wednesday evening, Goa Congress chief Amit Patkar claimed several ministers in Sawant-led cabinet were involved in corruption and needed to be removed. AAP Goa president Amit Palekar in a post on his X handle welcomed Gaude's removal and claimed his party, with the help of people of the state, will bring down the Sawant government. Goa Forward Party head Vijai Sardesai said the minister was never removed in the past when there were allegations of corruption against him. 'But, now when he raised allegations of corruption in the tribal department, the government acted against him," Sardesai said. First Published: June 19, 2025, 09:15 IST
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Minister who claimed corruption in department under Goa CM Sawant sacked
Goa CM Pramod Sawant dropped controversial art and culture minister Govind Gaude Goa CM Pramod Sawant dropped controversial art and culture minister Govind Gaude from his cabinet on Wednesday. Sawant had decided nearly three weeks ago to drop Gaude after the minister made serious allegations of corruption in the tribal welfare department, which is under the CM. However, Gaude's removal was delayed as Sawant was awaiting clearance from Delhi, reports Murari Shetye. TOI was the first to report on May 31 that Gaude would be dropped from the cabinet. Sawant has not yet decided whether he will immediately induct a new minister into his cabinet or wait until the end of the Goa assembly's monsoon session, which is to begin July 22. In his statement on social media platforms, Gaude said: "There can be no greater honour than to be recognised on Goa Revolution Day for standing with the weak and oppressed. I am grateful to govt and the party for liberating me to give voice to the struggle - the very cause for which govt has taken this stance. When faced with the choice between power and truth, I will always choose truth."
