One more sordid instance of ‘alleged’ blatant corrupt practice by a Minister in the Manohar Parrikar government has come to light. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, in a high handed manner and through gross misuse of his power and authority, has grabbed 599 sq mts of prime land on the Chogm road at Porvorim, belonging to Serula Communidade.
Perusal of documents reveals that Dilip Parulekar, in connivance with Irene Sequeira, the North Goa Administrator of Communidade Zone, and Peter Martins the Attorney of Serula Comunidade, carried out the illegality. Incidentally Irene Sequeira is an Under Secretary posted in the Tourism Minister’s office, while Peter Martins is a Panchayat Secretary at the Sangolda Panchayat in Dilip Parulekar’s Saligao constituency. What is further disturbing is that this trio got the then President of Administrative Tribunal Zaiwant Porobo and a Mapusa Civil Judge D.M.Kerkar entangled in this crafty affair, to mask the illegality. It is now imperative that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar immediately axes Dilip Parulekar from the cabinet, if he really stands for Zero tolerance to corruption. While axing Dilip Parulekar he also needs to take stern action against Irene Sequeira and Peter Martins. On 7th October, when he has the promised re-look at his Cabinet, he will have to act decisively. If, by chance, the lackluster Tourism Minister gets additional portfolios, that will show us where his learned and ‘omniscient’ boss himself stands on corruption. On the questionable role by the then President of Administrative Tribunal Zaiwant Porobo and the Mapusa Civil Judge D.M.Kerkar, the complete details will soon be placed before the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court for appropriate action on the Administrative side. Of course, I have known Dilip Parulekar for many years, although haven’t met him since he became a Minister 19 months ago. However, last year, on Dec 27th, while I was on a holiday at Mangalore, a lawyer colleague called me to help him in getting some passes for the Sunburn show. Very reluctantly I called Dilip Parulekar and he promptly obliged. I did thank Dilip, and I do thank him once more now. But none of that prevents me from asking that he should be hung to the lamp post for this gross abuse of power. My stand would have been no different even if he was my closest friend or relative. We now need to ensure that every centimeter of this 599 sq mts grabbed by Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar is restored back to the Communidade of Serula where it rightly belongs. Over the last 19 months, as Tourism Minister of Goa Mr. Dilip Parulekar has been lucky to visit so many countries across the globe at tax payer’s expense. It was expected that he would learn some good things and enrich himself by better deeds. Sadly he hasn’t. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372