Rane claims more achievement than previous BJP government

Panaji, Jan 25 (UNI) Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane claimed in the legislative Assembly today his government, during its 20 month tenure, had achieved what the former BJP government that could not in more than four years.

Putting down criticism by the Opposition, which he said, was bound to meet its ''Waterloo'' in the coming elections, the Chief Minister said the government was trying its best to boost employment potential by harnessing natural resources and manpower, besides the ports and waterways.

Replying to a five-day debate on motion of thanks to the Governor's address in the House to the Winter session on the concluding day, he said his government did not believe in ''theatrics''.

Terming the BJP's resistance for the controversial Regional Plan-2011 ''ludicrous,'' he said the plan was drafted in the year 2004 when the former was in power in the state.

He said the Congress government valued traditions and history of sacrifices unlike the ''BJP that belonged to the people who killed the Father of the Nation.'' His government, he claimed, had provided employment to more than 20,000 youth under the pre-employment scheme in the last 20 months as against mere 500 by the BJP government in the state earlier.

He alleged that some of the members of the Opposition as ministers had instigated the people and indulged in stone throwing while others fuelled communal riots and several were involved in ''forgery cases'' and as such they had no right to talk of failure of law and order in the state.

The House, later adopted the motion of thanks defeating the 39 amendments moved by the Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar. The House was later adjourned sine die.

Participating in the debate earlier, Deputy Speaker Ms Victoria Fernandes demanded appointment of the state level Human Rights Commission besides enforcing the Police Reforms as suggested by the Supreme Court to check communal riots She also urged the government to denotify the controversial Regional Plan-2011 with retrospective effect in deference to the wishes of the general public.

UNI