Congress to dump Kamat as Goa CM

Congress in-charge of Goa affairs Jagmeet Brar said the party does not want to face a Karnataka-like situation where the BJP was forced to dump B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister after his indictment by Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in his report on illegal mining.

“Unlike the BJP, the Congress will not hesitate in taking stringent action against anybody, howsoever big, found involved in the illegal mining. There will be no compromise on corruption,” Brar said when asked about the issue.

Sources in the Congress said “the central leadership was disturbed and concerned over the allegations of illegal mining in the state.”

Sources said the party high command was mulling various options, which include “replacing Kamat with a person of clean image” and avoid embarrassment to the party as there is a general sentiment against corruption across the country.

The illegal mining scam in Goa is estimated to be around Rs 12,000 crore. According to reports, former Goa deputy chief minister and Congress MLA Dayanand Narvekar has told the Justice M B Shah Commission, probing illegal mining across the country, that the scam is in the tune of Rs 10,000-12,000 crore.

The commission, appointed in 2010 by the Centre, has been given 18 months to submit its report. Interestingly, Kamat, has been holding the mining portfolio for the past 12 years.