Goa cash-for-jobs scam: AAP seeks judicial probe; BJP says ED inquiry on
Panaji (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe into the cash-for-jobs scam in Goa, claiming that an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will not yield any result.
Goa BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar, however, said the opposition itself had demanded an ED inquiry which was now underway and there was nothing to hide.
The AAP leaders were targeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his family over the scam for "political reasons", he said, adding the first FIR in the matter was registered at the CM's behest.
The Goa police have arrested several persons in connection with the fraud wherein many people have been duped under the pretext of being provided government jobs.
Several complaints had been filed across Goa, with many government job aspirants alleging they were forced to pay lakhs of rupees to some persons under the pretext of facilitating employment.
CM Sawant had said an unbiased investigation was underway into the scam, with police apprehending several accused, who were luring youth to pay for getting government jobs.
Talking to reporters here, AAP Goa president Amit Palekar said media reports have claimed the ED has initiated an inquiry into the scam.
"I feel that the ED's inquiry will fetch no results as it is yet another agency of the BJP," he alleged.
Palekar alleged some BJP functionaries were involved in the scam, hence his party has demanded a judicial inquiry into it.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also recently targeted the state BJP government over the scam.
Reacting to AAP's allegations of Sawant and his wife being involved in the scam, Vernekar challenged the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit and other opposition parties to come forward with "a single document linking the CM or his family to the cash-for-jobs scam."
It is laughable that they (AAP) are criticising others, Vernekar told PTI.
"Sanjay Singh has spent several months in jail. I was expecting him to be a little more responsible but he wasn't," he added.
Vernekar said the AAP leaders "have not been able to give a single proof of the involvement of CM or his family in the scam."
It is unfortunate to see the level of discourse and attack on the CM's family "only for political reasons," he said.
"I urge the opposition that if they have any proof of CM or his family's involvement, they should give it rather than making baseless allegations," he said.
Vernekar said if these attacks do not stop, then they will have to "explore all options".
"Now all lies being spoken about the involvement of BJP leaders would be exposed. The opposition has been demanding ED inquiry for a long time and it is now fulfilled," he said.
Once the investigation into the scam is over, it will be clear that individual men and women were defrauding the people, he said, asserting there was no involvement of any senior BJP leader.
"The investigation is on. As far as the government's intent of government is concerned, we have asked people (victims of the fraud) to come forward and lodge a case," he said.
After realising that some men and women were duping people, it was CM Sawant who asked police to start an investigation, Vernekar said.
The first FIR was filed at the behest of the chief minister and not the opposition or any victim, he said.
So far, 30 FIRs hve been registered and more than 25 persons arrested in connection with the case, Vernekar said.
"The accused have been arrested and it has only happened because the CM has been repeatedly appealing to the people of Goa that they should come forward and not let scamsters dupe them of their hard-earned money," he added.
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Israeli strike on home in northern Gaza kills 19 people
Deir Al-Balah, Dec 11: An Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 19, Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday.
Kamal Adwan Hospital said it received the bodies after the overnight strike in the town of Beit Lahiya. Hospital records show that a family of eight were among those killed, including four children, their parents and two grandparents.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has waged a renewed offensive against Hamas group in northern Gaza since early October.
Another strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least seven people, according to al-Awda Hospital. Records show the dead included two children, their parents and three relatives.
The war began when Hamas-led group stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 Hamas members, without providing evidence.
