Kejriwal claims Goa Congress chief involved in mining with CM’s ‘blessings’; he rejects it
Panaji (PTI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that Goa Congress chief Amit Patkar runs mining business with the “blessings” of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, drawing a sharp rebuttal by the Congress leader.
Rubbishing the claim, Patkar asserted that his family’s mining business had existed for generations.
Addressing a public meeting in the Mayem constituency in North Goa after inaugurating AAP leader Shrikrishna Parab’s office, Kejriwal claimed, citing a conversation with a fellow passenger on his way to Goa, that Patkar owns mines in the coastal state.
“That cannot happen (owning mines) without the blessings of the chief minister. Both are together. They just claim to have different political affiliations - one is Congress and the other is the BJP,” he said.
Over the past 60 years, Kejriwal said, 13-14 families have maintained their grip over politics in Goa.
“Their grandfather was contesting, then their son and now their grandson is contesting the election,” he said, adding that such individuals do not contest polls for the sake of the people but for their own benefits.
“These families are not just in the BJP, but also in the Congress. Even major businesses, contracts and big land parcels are with them,” he claimed.
The time is appropriate to “change” the system so that the people have rights over their resources, said the ex-Delhi CM.
Responding to Kejriwal’s claim, Patkar wrote on X, “Mr @ArvindKejriwal, as a former IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officer and Ex Chief Minister, you should know that public statements must be based on facts — not on gossip overheard from a co-passenger on a flight.”
“Repeating baseless rumours to defame me is irresponsible and unbecoming of your position,” Patkar said.
The Congress Goa chief said, “My family’s mining concessions leases existed for generations — much before you were even born — and were abolished by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in 2013.”
He also invited Kejriwal to a public debate in Goa during the AAP leader's current visit.
“Let’s discuss facts, not fiction. Stop misleading Goans with gossip and show some basic decency before speaking about others,” Patkar said.
Kejriwal arrived in Goa on Friday evening on a three-day visit to the coastal state.
Addressing the media outside Dabolim Airport, he said AAP would form the government in Goa on its own after the 2027 assembly polls. In the 40-member Goa assembly, AAP now has two MLAs.
Kejriwal said people have lost faith in the ruling BJP and opposition Congress. “The BJP has been ruling Goa for the last 13 years. The Congress has been supporting the BJP to form the government by providing MLAs,” he claimed.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
