Goa Congress legislators Monday expressed doubts over credibility of the report prepared by the PAC which probed instances of illegal mining.
Goa Congress legislators Monday expressed doubts over credibility of the report prepared by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which probed instances of illegal mining in the coastal state, even as the party members on the committee "admitted" that they often remained absent in its meetings.
Congress legislator Fransic Silveira told reporters today he had not attended even a single out of 20 meetings of PAC held to discuss illegal iron ore mining which presumed to have caused a major loss to the state exchequer.
"I did not attend a single meeting. I used to get invitations," Silveira said.
When asked why he did not attend them, the MLA replied "he was too busy to attend these meetings".
Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Sudhakar Reddy, during a recent press briefing, said the Congress members were not "invited" to attend the PAC meetings. He had also claimed that the members had submitted a dissident note to the PAC chairman Manohar Parrikar.
His contention was, however, denied by two out of three party legislators who were among 7 members of PAC.
"No...I have not submitted any dissident note," Silveira said when pointed out to the statement of his leader.
Another Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes admitted that he was irregular in the meetings.
"I will decide whether to sign the report or not only after reading it," Fernandes said, adding he used to receive all invites for the meetings.
The third legislator Victoria Fernandes was not available for comment.
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Pandurang Dhavalikar, a coalition partner in the Congress-led Digambar Kamat Government, said his party would sign the PAC report.
"We have no doubts on the report.I have attended almost all the meetings," Dhavlikar said.
BJP legislator Damodar Naik, another PAC member, claimed that the Congress was trying to find out an "escape-route" by doubting credibility of the report fearing it might be against the interest of Congress.
"Why do they need to fear? The report is yet to be prepared. They are trying to preempt the consequences without even knowing them," Naik said.
PAC comprises seven members, including three each from Congress and BJP--along with chairman Manohar Parrikar--and one member from MGP.
PAC chairman Manohar Parrikar today said the Congress leaders who were not part of the Assembly are committing breach of privilege of the House by making statements on the report.
He said the report was based on the facts received from government departments.
The report will be tabled on floor of the House either on October 5 or October 7, he added.
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