Panaji: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP Government over the conduct of the 12th International Yoga Day celebrations, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Media & Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar today alleged that the Sports & Youth Affairs Department manipulated the nomination process to favour a chosen agency by bypassing established tendering norms.
Addressing a press conference at Congress House, Panaji, Panjikar said that the BJP Government has once again demonstrated that for it, every public event is an opportunity to distribute contracts instead of ensuring transparency and accountability.
“This was the 12th International Yoga Day. It is an annual event celebrated across the country on a fixed date. Where was the emergency that justified awarding the work through nomination? Why was the decision deliberately delayed? Who benefited from this last-minute exercise?” Panjikar questioned.
He said the government’s explanation simply does not stand scrutiny.
“If the Department knew months in advance that Yoga Day would be celebrated on 21st June, why were estimates not prepared in time? Why were the rates of all required items not finalized well in advance? Why was an open and competitive tender not floated? Why was the work conveniently handed over through nomination?” he asked.
Panjikar further questioned why prior administrative and financial approval for the event budget was not obtained before awarding the work.
“Was the Government planning to spend public money first and seek approvals later? Who authorised this? Under which rule was this extraordinary procedure adopted? The people of Goa deserve answers,” he said.
Calling the entire process highly suspicious, Panjikar alleged that the nomination provision, meant only for exceptional and genuine emergencies, had been converted into a convenient tool to favour selected contractors while shutting out fair competition.
“The BJP Government has institutionalised the culture of nomination, favouritism and commission. Competitive bidding has become the casualty while transparency has become the biggest victim,” he charged.
Launching a direct attack on Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Panjikar said, “When Ramesh Tawadkar was Speaker, his handling of matters under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution drew widespread criticism for facilitating defections. Today, as Sports Minister, he appears to have once again bypassed established norms by allowing a contract for Yoga Day to be awarded through nomination instead of a transparent tender process. Goa deserves governance based on rules, not discretion.”
Panjikar demanded that the Government immediately place the entire file relating to the Yoga Day expenditure in the public domain, including:
* The justification for invoking the nomination procedure.
* Administrative and financial approvals.
* The complete estimate.
* Item-wise approved rates.
* The work order.
* Comparative statements, if any.
* Head-wise expenditure.
“If the Government has nothing to hide, it should make every document public. Secrecy only strengthens the suspicion that the nomination process was misused to favour a preferred agency.”
“The BJP Government must stop exploiting sacred occasions for questionable financial decisions. Yoga symbolises discipline, honesty and selflessness. The BJP has reduced it into another opportunity for backdoor contracts and public money politics. Congress will continue to expose every irregularity and will not allow corruption to be committed in the name of Yoga. Every rupee belonging to the people of Goa must be accounted for,” Panjikar asserted.
He warned that if the Government fails to come clean, the Congress Party will intensify its agitation and pursue the matter before all appropriate authorities until complete transparency and accountability are ensured.
