Union mantri assures thrust for tourism, commerce in Goa

Panaji/Vasco: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale said on Monday the Centre would provide all assistance to the state government to boost tourism in Goa. Athawale said that CM Pramod Sawant has assured him that reservation would be given to persons belonging to SC who converted to Buddhism.

Athawale said the Centre passed a law in 1991 under which those from SC who changed their religion are entitled to reservations. He added that Sawant assured him that a bill in this regard would be brought up in the next assembly session.

Athawale promised a scheme under which Goa can construct old-age homes, hostels, and an Ambedkar bhavan. Sawant, too, said that an Ambedkar bhavan would come up in the state. Sawant has agreed to give 5,000 sqm ofland to build it, Athawale said

He also said that there’s a need to get more industries in the state so that youth get employment. “We will support the state government to get industries in the state,” he said. “I will speak to industrialists in Mumbai to get industries to Goa.”

Athawale said that regional parties can join the NDA, but even if they don’t, his government “will continue at the Centre” and in 2024, too, NDA will win. He said that the people are disillusioned by Congress.

On West Bengal, the minister said that BJP would form the next government, and win over 200 of the 294 seats. “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is getting agitated,” he said.

He said that his party, the Republican Party of India, would join forces with BJP in Bengal and ask for four seats.

Commenting on the farmers’ protests, Athawale said that their emands are “unwanted”, and that the agitation is turning political. “Farmers should agree with the government’s compromise formula, and the government wouldn’t take the bills back,” he said.

Speaking on the Maharashtra government, Athawale said that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray should have not formed the government. “This government has completed one year, but it will be difficult for them to run the government in its second year,” he said. “We will not topple the government, but if the government falls, we will try to form the government.”


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