Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, January 19, 2008 (PTI): The dissident legislators in Goa have dismissed Congress theory that the political instability there is a fallout of the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s stand on scrapping SEZs.
“It is not because of pro-special economic zone (SEZ) lobby”, dissident leader Antanasio Monserratte told PTI.

“We have placed our demands before the high command (Congress and NCP) and it is for them to resolve the issue. There is nothing against the government,” independent MLA and one of the dissident leaders Vishwajeet Rane said.

Rane, who resigned along with two NCP ministers on January 16 plunging the Digambar Kamat-led government into a crisis, did not fault Kamat’s leadership but admitted that the dissidents were irked because the “government is not delivering on its promises.” Rane, who relinquished his health portfolio to join the dissidents led by United Goans Democratic Party legislator Monserratte, said, “Over the last seven months we have been hurt over a lot of issues and that is precisely why we have come together.” The rebel group came up with a list of demands which included removal of finance minister Daynand Narvekar, home minister Ravi Naik and PWD minister Churchill Alemao from their respective portfolios.

Monserratte had also demanded that the proposed Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology (IT) Habitat, a brainchild of Narvekar, be scrapped as it was a real estate scam.