Alemao swears by manifesto

Panaji, Aug 14 (UNI) Save Goa Front supremo Churchil Alemao, who was inducted into the Digambar Kamat-led cabinet today, said he would not rest till he implemented his party's election manifesto in toto.

''I will fight with the government for implementation of our party manifesto in toto,'' Mr Alemao said during his interaction with mediapersons immediately after he was sworn in at Raj Bhavan this evening.

He claimed that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had alloted him the PWD portfolio that fell vacant with the MGP withdrawing support to the government on July 26.

The SGF manifesto pleads for recognising Konkani in Roman script on par with Devnagari script, development of existing airport at Davolim, opposing international airport at Mopa and scrapping North-South expressway.

Interestingly the government did not accept his private member's bill on the script issue during the last budget session when Mr Alemao was in the opposition camp though he was supporting the government from outside on ''issue by issue basis''.

Mr Alemao, who pleads for recognising Konkani in its Roman Script, took the oath of office and secrecy in Konkani.

UGDP legislator Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, who quit the Anti-Congress coalition of the Goa Democratic Alliance(GDA) yesterday to extend ''unconditional support'' to the government, was seen at the venue only after Mr Alemao completed taking the oath.

While one section of the Congress did not like Babush supporting the government, others feared he may prove a threat to the government in due course.

Apart from ministers, several legislators and party leaders including that of the coalition partners, top bureraucrats including the chief secretary J P Singh were present on the occasion.

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane was conspicuous by his absence. The Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho was present at the ceremony arranged on the sprawling lawns of Raj Bhavan.

UNI