I will shed my blood if necessary for stalling Habitat work:Babush

Panaji, Dec 9 (UNI) Warning the Digambar Kamat government against going ahead with the works related to the controversial Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula Plateau, the lone unattached MLA and former minister Atanasio Monserrate (Babush) said he was ready to shed his blood, if necessary, to stall the project in the interest of the people of his Taleigao constituency.

Addressing an impressive ''peace rally'', organised by the area residents, stalled by the cops away from the project site today, Mr Monserrate reiterated his demand for a CBI probe into the allotment of plots to the beneficiaries so that the real people behind the scam could come out.

He said the name of Rajiv Gandhi had been abused for personal gains by some vested interests, including Finance and IT Minister Dayanand Narvekar, who went ahead with the project despite opposition from the beginning.

The government imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC since yesterday following rampage on Thursday night by the project opponents, who had damaged some vehicles and uprooted electric poles.

The government has also ordered a magisterial probe into the vandalism, covering police failure to prevent rampage.

Political circles, however, believe that Babush was instigating the locals to find berth in the cabinet like Save Goa Front chief Churchill Alemao, who joined the government as PWD Minister after launching a tirade against the government under the banner of the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) after June 2 elections to the state Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has said he would initiate a dialogue with Mr Monserrate, besides the members of the Taleigao Panchayat, NGOs and other stake holders, to clear doubts on the project.

Mr Kamat has also directed chief secretary J P Singh to prepare a white paper on the proposed SEZs at Verna and Keri soon. The cabinet would later take an appropriate decision on the demand for scrapping of all SEZs in the state.

UNI