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GOA WITHDRAWS PERMISSION FOR CBI OPERATIONS IN STATE
Says Centre stepped on state's toes.
>From Pamela D'Mello / Goa
Panaji, Sep 2: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the state was
withdrawing its consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to
operate in Goa, following Tuesday's central income tax raids on a BJP
minister and former legislator.
"I have lost faith in the Centre and in the Central government
agencies," Mr Parrikar said at a specially convened press conference
in the State secretariat this morning.
The BJP was reacting angrily to the widespread raids on the offices and
residences of BJP town planning minister Atanasio Monserrate and an ex-MLA,
Isidore Fernandes, who recently vacated his assembly seat to join the BJP.
"The Centre is misusing its agencies and trying to harrass the opposition.
The current ruling party has an apprehension that it will misuse other
agencies for political ends," said Mr Parrikar.
By withdrawing the general consent to the CBI to operate in Goa, the
agency will have to take state government approval for any
investigation other that specific cases against central government
agenices. It currently operates under the Delhi Police Act with
general and specific consent from the States. Goa will be
withdrawing its general consent, the chief minister said.
Previous Congress governments had withdrawn consent to the CBI to function
here from 1996-2000, over disputes with the official posted here.
Mr Parrikar pointedly clarified that his objection was to the alleged
discourtesy and breach of protocol in the IT raids.
Earlier the chief minister had said raids on a state minister could not
have taken place without the approval of the Central finance minister. He
charged the local Congress leadership with instigating the raids to
"destablise" his government and frighten MLAs.
"There is such a thing as State and Central relations. They have stepped on
the State government's toes," said Mr Parrikar. Serious complaints will be
made to the Prime Minister and President, he said.
Mr Parrikar, in addition, argued that the 30 income tax officials
who conducted the extensive raids in Goa on Tuesday had breached
protcol in not informing state authorities about the raid on a
minister, though state police escorts were taken for the purpose.
While the raids were on, the minister was obstructed from signing a Cabinet
note, amounting to an obstruction of constitutional duties and the
privileges of the state cabinet. The state government is considering legal
criminal action against the IT officials involved, Mr Parrikar argued.
In taking a strong stand on Tuesday's raids, the state goverment here has
launched its own counter-offensive in the local political chess game being
played out in the backdrop of Goa's notoriously instable politics.
The Congress was visibly gleeful after Tuesday's raids, saying it
was a fit reply to the operations of "money sharks" who had lured Mr
Fernandes into vacating his seat. Goa Pradesh Congress chief Mr
Luizinho Faleiro has said he will seek additional vigilance on money
spending at next month's by-election for the vacated seat.
Meanwhile, political battlelines are already being drawn in the state for
October's by-election which is emerging as a BJP versus
the-rest-of-the-opposition contest. Mr Fernandes is expected to recontest,
after he quit to dramatically alter the equation in the thinly-divided Goa
assembly, this time battling on a BJP ticket. (ENDS)
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