PANAJI: A high level investigating team of income tax from Bangalore on Tuesday raided the residences and business establishments of a prominent BJP minister and a former Congress MLA who resigned from the Goa assembly and joined the BJP on Monday.
With by-election to the Poinguinim assembly constituency on October 13 following the resignation of former Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes, and reports of money having changed hands for the political development, the income tax raid has assumed a political tone. The town and country planning minister, Atanasio Monserrate, better known for his wealth was talked about for having struck a deal for the political switchover.
The raids having taken place the minister and the opposition congress traded charges. "I went to the state congress president, Luizinho
Faleiro's house along with the transport minister, Pandurang Madkaikar to wish him on his birthday just a few days ago. Politics apart, we are friends as well. Luizinho told me that I could pay Isidore the money but asked me that the latter should not contest for the by election. I am told that the congress president, Sonia Gandhi was very disturbed at the crossover of one of congress leader to the BJP."
Mr Faliero riposted thus: "Babush (Mr Monserrate) came to my house and wished me. But there was no discussion. It has become fashionable for the BJP to malign Ms Gandhi."
"We had all along been talking about lure of money power and corruption of the BJP government in Goa. What has happened only vindicates that corruption has reached its peak and it is a case of one MLA being purchased. Earlier Isidore told us at a Congress Legislature Party meeting that there were criminal cases filed against him that would be hushed up if he crossed over and also get financial help.
Everybody knows the BJP paid him."
Describing the episode as one that spelled in bold and clear terms the "the subversion of Constitutional machinery in the state," Mr Faleiro demanded posting of CRPF and election observers for conducting a free and fair poll for the by-poll. |
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IT raids on premises of Isidore, Monserratte![]() ![Add to Clippings]()
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PTI![]() [ TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2004 08:42:34 PM ]
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PANAJI: The Income Tax department officials on Tuesday conducted raids at the residence of Goa Town and Country Planning Minister Anastasio Monserratte and a former MLA Isidore Fernandes, who had joined BJP on Monday.
The raids, which commenced this morning were still on, but officials in the Income Tax Department refused to comment on the nature of the raids.
"I have no information about the raids. They are being conducted by Bangalore circle," officials in the Goa IT department said when asked about the details.
While Monserratte himself confirmed the raids, he expressed his inability to divulge details as the IT sleuths were still at his residence.
Simultaneous raids were conducted at the Poiguinim residence of former Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes, who
had only recently resigned from his seat and joined the BJP on Monday.
Details, however, were not available. | |
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Isidore Fernandes joins BJP![]() ![Add to Clippings]()
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PTI![]() [ MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2004 03:44:10 PM ]
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PANAJI: Former Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes, who resigned from his Poiguinim Assembly seat in Goa on August 19, on Monday joined the BJP.
"Every one in the Congress wants to become Chief Minister and there is constant infighting," he said after joining the BJP at its headquarters here in the presence of state Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other party leaders. Parrikar, however, denied 'encouraging' any resignations, saying "we have not asked anyone to resign. He (Isidore) had informed me about his move five to six days in advance and I told him that I would be able to consider him favourably only after he resigned from his party. I cannot advise him while he is still in the Congress." Parrikar also denied
allegations that the resignation was another way of cirumventing the defection law. "How can it be a way of circumventing the law when the person has resigned? He has given up everything," he said. When asked if he expected to get a ticket for the October 13 by-poll, Fernandes said "Let me first become an obedient soldier of the party. Even if I don't get a ticket, I shall work hard for the party." The former MLA claimed that more than a thousand of his supporters, including the entire block committee of the Poiguinim Congress, have joined the BJP along with him. |
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Cong MLA resigns from Goa assembly![]()
SANJAY BANERJEE
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TIMES NEWS NETWORK![]() [ THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2004 03:27:24 PM ]
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PANAJI: Congress MLA, Isidore Fernandes on Thursday resigned from the Goa assembly.
He said he was resigning of his own volition and it was "voluntary, genuine and not actuated by any other consideration." The move has come as a setback to the party that heads the UPA government at the Centre. The Speaker Vishwas Satarkar said he has accepted the resignation and would communicate it to the Election commission of India. Mr Fernandes said he was not joining any political party and would consult his supporters before taking a decision. But in the letter submitted to the Speaker, Mr Fernandes squarely blamed the congress for "creating instability in the political
set up by dethroning the government and making allegations about the international film festival of India." Interestingly, the letter praises the BJP chief minister, Manohar Parrikar, who heads a coalition government. Regional political parties supporting the Parrikar government hailed the decision. Tourism minister, Mathany Saldanha of United Goans democratic party (UGDP) and PWD minister, Ramkrishna Dhavlikar of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party described the resignation as a personal choice exercised by Mr Fernandes. Two other ministers who accompanied Mr Fernandes are the water resources minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues (independent) and town and country planning minister of BJP, Atansasio Monserrate. They too welcomed the stance taken by Mr Fernandes. In a little more than a fortnight since the BJP held its chintan bhaitak, Goa politics has once again become volatile. Francisco X (Micky) Pacheco who represents a faction of the UGDP withdrew his support during the
BJP conclave, leading to speculations of the stability of the government. Mr Fernandes resignation has put pressure on the opposition Congress. |
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BJP-Cong battle royal for Oct 13 by-poll![]()
SANJAY BANERJEE
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TIMES NEWS NETWORK![]() [ MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2004 02:31:47 PM ]
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PANAJI: Isidore Fernandes, who resigned as a Congress MLA in the Goa assembly on August 19, joined the BJP on Monday. Mr Fernandes represented the Poinguinim assembly constituency. The election commission of India has fixed October 13 for the by-election to the seat following the resignation of the elected representative.
"Yes, I have joined the BJP but would not be able to confirm that I would be the candidate for the by election," Mr Fernandes said to this newspaper. The opposition Congress described the move of Mr Fernandes as "disgraceful and motivated by self aggrandisement." The by-poll to the constituency in South Goa is politically significant for both the national parties to score a political victory in Goa. Besides, the assembly poll in neighbouring Maharashtra is scheduled on the same day - a battle royal for the ruling Congress led DF government and the BJP-Sena. Mr Fernandes held the
Congress leadership responsible for his decision to quit from the assembly. He said toppling games indulged into by the opposition Congress was largely responsible for the failure of the party to play the role of an effective opposition in the assembly that affected development of his constituency. He also praised the BJP chief minister, Manohar Parrikar for his leadership and the overall development of the state. The decision of Mr Fernandes has come as a boost to the BJP that aims to win the seat and increase its strength in the assembly. The 40-member Goa assembly, now reduced to 39 following the resignation, requires a simple majority of 21 members for a political formation to stake claim to power. The BJP and its allies, who are the sole representatives of two regional parties, besides one independent member add up to 22. Soon after the defeat of the BJP and its allies in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, the Congress in Goa had been hopeful of forming an alternative
government and realignments too were discussed but with the exit of Mr Fernandes the BJP gave a political blow to the Congress. |
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- Forwarded by www.goa-world.com |
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