Misquoted on corruption charges but my sacking proves it is true: Govind Gaude
Margao:
Former art and culture minister Govind Gaude on Sunday said that the narrative set by the media about the allegations of corruption in the tribal welfare department under CM Sawant, turned out to be true, and that is the reason he was sacked from the cabinet for speaking the truth.
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Throughout his speech, Gaude said that he did not make any corruption charges against the tribal welfare department.
'This allegation has come out through the newspapers, and it is true. Because Govind Gaude spoke the truth, he was sacked,' Gaude said at a largely attended public meeting at Marcel.
Last week, CM dropped Gaude from his cabinet. Gaude had alleged about some behind-the-scenes operations. 'The files of the contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan (from where the tribal welfare department functions) on the sly.
And they think we don't know of such things,' he had said at an event organised by the tribal welfare department in association with the United Tribals Associations' Alliance (UTAA) at Ponda.
In a defiant display of political strength, the former minister spoke days after his unceremonious removal from the cabinet. The independent MLA-turned-BJP member stopped short of directly accusing the party of ingratitude but made it clear that his contributions to the party's success went unrecognised.
Taking aim at BJP state president Damodar Naik without naming him, Gaude criticised his leadership for threatening action against him for his statements at a May 25 meeting without even giving him an opportunity to explain.
'Action against a minister for violating party discipline just for speaking out? And doesn't it amount to indiscipline for declaring action against me without even hearing me out over the issue? Now what action will be taken against him, I want to know,' he said.
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Gaude defended his May 25 statements, saying he raised legitimate concerns about delays in processing Forest Rights Act applications and various tribal department schemes. 'Without addressing these issues, talking of taking action against me wasn't appropriate,' he said.
Gaude suggested he played a the crucial role in Sawant's elevation to the chief minister's position, claiming he was instrumental in preventing MGP's Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar from coordinating cabinet affairs during former CM Manohar Parrikar's illness.
'If Govind Gaude did not oppose this move, no BJP MLA would ever become the chief minister,' he declared, adding that he personally recommended Sawant's candidature to Parrikar.
The Priol MLA said he emphasised his loyalty when Sawant approached him for support. 'I told him, 'I would be proud to extend my support to my friend and former classmate. And I lived up to my promise,'' Gaude said.
Further, Gaude claimed credit for the narrow BJP victory in the 2019 Shiroda bypoll that consolidated Sawant's position as chief minister.
Despite being an independent MLA at the time, Gaude said he campaigned door-to-door for BJP candidate Subhash Shirodkar, who won by a mere 70 votes. 'My contribution to Shirodkar's victory was large. Even the BJP workers didn't work as hard as I did for the party's victory,' he said, describing how he went 'with folded hands canvassing' for the BJP candidate.
Gaude said that his decision to join BJP before the 2022 elections came with the condition that the elections are contested under Sawant's leadership. 'I joined BJP with the condition that the elections are contested under the leadership of
,' he said.
However, Gaude expressed frustration over being denied access to the party's central leadership despite repeated requests over the past 3.5 years. 'After joining BJP, I requested the CM and then secretary general of the party to arrange a meeting for me with the party's central leadership. It never happened,' he said.
Gaude said he wrote to the BJP national president J P Nadda and that he plans to send footage of his May 25 speech with translations to PM Modi, home minister Amit Shah, Nadda, and even the President of India, to clear any misgivings about him.
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