Corporation of The City of Panaji (CCP) Councillor and Panaji Block Congress Committee President Joel Andrade accused Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate of fooling the people of Goa and blackmailing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to get three tickets for his family for the upcoming Goa assembly elections at a press conference held at the Congress House in the capital city on Thursday.
Flanked by Panaji Block Vice President Anjali Dobhal, Panaji Congress Mahila President Muktamala Fondvekar, North District Youth Congress General Secretary Nashville Desouza and Cortalim Youth Congress President Peter Fernandes, Andrade dismissed Babush as “a toothless tiger” who is purposefully not naming the people involved in the scam.
“Babush, you are a toothless tiger. A tiger because you have conquered the Panaji area and toothless because you are helpless here as you are also involved in scams,” Andrade said.
Andrade questioned why the Panaji MLA, despite claiming to have all proofs, is not revealing the names of all those who are involved in the scam. “My simple question to Babush is, why can’t you name all those involved in the scam? You claim that ‘job fixing’ was done in Dona Paula. With so much proof, what’s stopping you from exposing these culprits?” he asked.
“Babush said that candidates told him they want to commit suicide due to this scam. If he is genuinely concerned, why is he giving half information? Why not name the senior minister, professor and everyone else involved in this scam? Why not reveal the ‘list’ that he has been talking about and on what dates these papers were conducted?” he pointed out.
“Babush said he has proof that the ministers have taken money. I want to ask him, since you have the proof, why not expose them directly? What you are doing right now appears to be a staged drama that you’ve been doing for 20 years right before every election in order to get votes,” he added.
These allegations, Andrade said, reek of a much deeper conspiracy. “It appears that with all this drama, Babush is only trying to blackmail the BJP to acquire three tickets for his family – his wife, son and for himself – for the upcoming assembly elections in Goa.”
Andrade concluded by demanding that the recruitment process be scrapped, a high court-monitored investigation be carried out and a fresh recruitment process, under the watchful eyes of the honorable high court take place.
“I demand that this recruitment process be scrapped, a high court-monitored investigation be carried out and a fresh recruitment process, under the watchful eyes of the honorable high court, take place,” said the CCP Councillor.