Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 25: Two senior ministers in the Goa government have condemned what they described as a baseless and malicious campaign aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, following allegations of his involvement in land scams.

Water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte addressed the media on Monday, firmly standing by the chief minister and asserting that the entire cabinet remains united under his leadership. Their statements come in the wake of a video circulated on social media, accusing Dr Sawant of illegal land conversions, which he had dismissed as a smear campaign orchestrated by vested interests.

Speaking at the press conference, Shirodkar, a veteran in Goa's political landscape, expressed his admiration for Dr Sawant’s leadership. He compared his tenure favourably to former chief ministers, including Pratapsingh Rane and the late Manohar Parrikar, emphasizing Dr Sawant’s role in setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to tackle land-grab cases.

"CM Pramod Sawant has taken significant steps to curb illegal land dealings, and the SIT has made substantial progress, arresting several individuals and registering 99 cases related to land conversion rackets," Shirodkar said. He reiterated that the entire team of 12 ministers is committed to transparency and accountability in governance.

Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte also criticized the circulating videos, calling them baseless and an attempt to defame the chief minister without any credible evidence. He urged the public to disregard these false narratives, describing them as the work of disgruntled individuals.

“Our government welcomes constructive criticism, but we will not tolerate misinformation intended to undermine Goa’s progress,” Khaunte added.

The ministers reaffirmed their confidence in Dr Sawant's leadership and commitment to the state's development, vowing to continue their work in the best interests of the people of Goa.