JOIN USWill sack Minister if sexual exploitation charges are proven, says Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Days after the Congress accused an unnamed Goa cabinet minister of sexually exploiting a woman and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of destroying evidence linked to the incident, Sawant on Wednesday said that he would sack any minister if he is provided proof about the case.
Sawant also accused state Congress president Girsh Chodankar of making vague political allegations for publicity ahead of the 2022 state Assembly polls. "I am telling you, I will sack anyone. Anyone can make political allegations to get publicity and as part of strategy for elections, which are nearby," the chief minister said in a press conference in Panaji.
"If anyone has proof or the person on whom the atrocity has been committed, then the person should file a complaint. If the person who has suffered the atrocity files a complaint, I will 100 per cent take action. Until now, no one has filed a complaint," Sawant said.
On November 30, Chodankar had given Sawant 15 days to sack the cabinet minister, who, the state Congress president said, had been sexually exploiting a woman. Chodankar said that he had seen audio, video and WhatsApp chats that could incriminate the minister, whom he refused to name for the time being. Chodankar also claimed that Sawant was privy to the evidence and was trying to destroy the same.
Sawant, however, said that his administration takes cases related to crimes against women seriously and said that if a formal complaint is made, he would order a thorough inquiry. "In this state, women have rights and if such atrocities have been committed on women, they should just file a complaint. Let the complaint prove itself. As a home minister, I will order a thorough inquiry. I am firm on it," Sawant said.
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