Click to play videoPanjim: Goa's Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is facing flak for allegedly shielding his Education Minister Atanasio Monserratefrom charges of abetment of rape. A group of ministers and MLAS have united to seek leadership change. CM may call for an independent inquiry into the charges.
Atanasio Monserrate, Goa's Education Minister stands accused of abetting the rape of a German minor girl by his son Rohit. This 4-time MLA has often been in the news for the wrong reasons.
In June 2007, Gajanan Korgaonkar, a real estate lawyer, told CNN-IBN that he had paid a 12 lakh rupee bribe to Atanasio Monserrate for a land deal.
As Minister for Town and Country Planning, Monserrate was behind the controversial State Regional Plan 2011, which opened many new areas in Goa to construction activity, endangering the state's ecology. Widespread civil protests forced the then Congress government to scrap Monserrate's plan.
“It’s not about an individual. It’s about system functioning the way it should function. If system acts against guilty, that’s enough to control people like Babush,” says activist, Dr Oscar Rebello
In February, Monserrate and his supporters attacked a police station in Panjim, after an alleged attack on one of his workers. Monserrate was arrested for attempted murder, and later released.
In August, social activist Aires Rodrigues, had accused Monserrate of presenting false details in his election affidavit. On Monday night, Rodrigues was attacked by masked men with knives.
“I am convinced beyond doubt that Babush is behind this attack,” says Aires Rodrigues.
Monserrate thrives on Goa's fractured politics. He has regularly switched parties, and was instrumental in bringing down the BJP government in 2005. He is presently an unattached MLA, having been expelled from the United Goans Democratic Party. Many feel that the Chief Minister is being soft on Monserrate.
“Its about criminalization of politics. There will be many like Babush it depends upon CM how tough he acts. As far as the present CM is concerned he clearly wants to go soft on the issue,” says Editor, Prudent Media, Sandesh Prabhudesai
CM’s sloppiness over the issue indicates that the CM is quiet so that he can avoid any kind of political turmoil.
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