Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s devious plan to squander a whopping
over four crores by way of road shows in Europe to create awareness and
attract tourists for the decennial exposition of the body of St Francis
Xavier scheduled to begin in December 2014 is a very flawed move. It only
exposes that Dilip Parulekar will spare nothing to open a window of
opportunity to make hay and milk the already cash strapped State exchequer.
These deceptive road shows are to have a rollicking time, at the cost of
the already much burdened tax payer.
The whole world knows the schedule of the ensuing Exposition and the
pilgrims from across the world who want to come must have already planned
their visit to Goa. Unlike our Ministers who cruise on State sponsored
foreign jaunts at short notice, the people overseas plan their holidays
well in advance.
These 4 crores instead would be better spent providing world class quality
infrastructure to cater to the needs of lakhs of people who will be
attending the Exposition. Goa very sadly has become a Casino and Sex
destination. The spate of rapes, murders and the growing lawlessness will
only dissuade people from visiting Goa which has today become a very unsafe
destination.
Dilip Parulekar’s greed to amass wealth seems to know no limits. In March
2012 after becoming the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar had promised that
he would periodically be reviewing the performance of his Ministers. As far
as Dilip Parulekar is concerned all that the Chief Minister needs to do is
to assess the mind boggling assets acquired by the Tourism Minister and his
family over the last two years. Manohar Parrikar had promised zero
tolerance to corruption but at least as far as Dilip Parulekar is concerned
it seems to be the other way round. The Chief Minister’s stoic silence
leaves one to wonder whether all this obvious corruption in the guise of
promoting Tourism is going on unabated with the connivance and blessings of
the Chief Minister himself.
As part of his much promised mantra of good governance, if Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar decides to have a re-look at the composition of his
cabinet, Dilip Parulekar should be the first to be flagged the red card.
For all his acts of omission and commission, a sightseeing long stay at the
Aguada jail should be Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s much overdue
destination.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com
Or
airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
You can also reach me on
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Twitter@rodrigues_aires
