Latest news with #GovindGaude
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
CM mentioned there was pressure from Nadda: Govind Gaude's claim after ouster from Goa Cabinet
Days after he was dropped from the state Cabinet, former Goa Art and Culture minister Govind Gaude on Sunday asked whether it was wrong 'if a minister asks for accountability from a department'. Making a first public appearance since his ouster from the Cabinet, Gaude said at a public meeting, under the banner of Priol Pragati Manch in Goa's Marcel, that he had received a phone call from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the evening of June 18, asking him to resign. 'He mentioned that there was pressure from (BJP national president) J P Nadda. I made it clear that I would not resign, as my fight has always been for the people. Later, the Chief Minister told the media that it was his own decision (to drop me from the Cabinet),' Gaude said. 'Is it wrong if a minister asks for accountability from a department?' he asked. Gaude, a tribal leader, was sacked from the Cabinet on June 18, nearly three weeks after he alleged corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, a portfolio held by CM Sawant. The controversy erupted when Gaude made a jibe at the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Ministry at a Prerna Divas event on May 25. In his speech that day, Gaude had said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare Department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled in the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' In an hour-long speech on Sunday, Gaude said he would not quit the BJP and that he would continue to fight for the rights of the tribal community. 'I did not join the BJP to resign from the party,' he said. The legislator from Priol constituency also claimed he was not allowed to meet the party high command in Delhi over the last three-and-a-half years since he joined the BJP in 2022. Gaude said he joined the party without meeting anyone in Delhi since he had 'full faith' in the state leadership. 'After I won and became a minister, I requested to be introduced to the central party leadership. The meeting was never arranged. Now, I am starting to understand why,' he said. Gaude said he has written letters to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nadda to inform them of the 'happenings in the state'. 'I will also transcribe this speech in Hindi, English and Marathi and send it to leaders in Delhi so that no one creates a wrong narrative,' he said. Blaming the media for 'misinterpreting' his statements, Gaude asked, 'Does the government take decisions based on media reports?' Quoting from a book on the life of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Gaude said that when Parrikar was ailing and had been admitted to a hospital in 2019, he called Gaude and told him that he was considering asking MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to lead the Cabinet. Gaude said he opposed the move and suggested Sawant's name. 'At the time, when there was a discussion about who should be the next chief minister, I suggested the name of Dr Pramod Sawant…as he is my friend and former classmate,' said Gaude. Gaude said he was 'happy' that he was dropped from the Cabinet on June 18 (Goa Revolution Day), saying it felt symbolic as 'my kranti (revolution) has always been about raising the voice of downtrodden people'.
Scroll.in
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Goa minister removed from Cabinet weeks after alleging corruption in CM's department
Goa minister Govind Gaude was on Wednesday removed from the state Cabinet, three weeks after he made allegations of corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, The Indian Express reported. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant holds the tribal welfare portfolio in the state's Bharatiya Janata Party government. The decision to drop Gaude, the art and culture minister, from the Cabinet was taken unanimously, Goa BJP chief Damu Naik told The Indian Express. 'It was taken after consultations by the government, the party and the party's central leadership,' he was quoted as saying. 'Party discipline is a must.' A gazette notification said that Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai had accepted the chief minister's recommendation to remove Gaude from the Council of Ministers, the newspaper reported. In a social media post, Gaude said that he had been 'rewarded this fate' for standing with the marginalised sections of society on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, which is celebrated on June 18. चिड्डल्या माडल्या लोकांचो पक्ष घेतलो हाची पावती गोंयच्या क्रांती दिसाक मेळप हाच्या परस व्हडले भाग्य आसपाक शकना. जे गजालीक लागून ह्या सरकारान ही भूमीका घेतल्या त्या संघर्शाक आवाज दिवपाक मेकळो केल्या खातीर म्हज्या सरकाराचें आनी पक्षाचें उपकार आटयता. सत्ता आनी सत्य भीतर निवड करपाची… — Govind Gaude (@Govind_Gaude) June 18, 2025 At a state-level function on May 26, Gaude had alleged that the state tribal welfare department was inefficient, and had claimed that its officials were taking bribes in exchange for signing files, PTI reported. Gaude, an Adivasi leader, had also questioned why the construction of a 'Tribal Bhavan' in the state had been stalled, and said that many Adivasis had given up their land for the project, according to The Indian Express. 'The foundation stone was laid when I was the tribal welfare minister,' Gaude had said. 'The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' The BJP leader had claimed that he had been misquoted in the media. However, Sawant had said that action would be taken against him for his 'irresponsible statements', according to The Indian Express. In response to Gaude's allegations, the Congress had urged the governor to dissolve the state government citing 'rampant corruption', PTI reported. Opposition leader Vijai Sardesai said that Gaude had not been removed when there were allegations of corruption against him earlier. 'But, now when he raised allegations of corruption in the tribal department, the government acted against him,' added the Goa Forward Party chief.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Liberated for choosing truth over power: Govind Gaude
Margao: Former art and culture minister Govind Gaude issued a defiant statement following his ouster from chief minister Pramod Sawant 's cabinet on Wednesday. Gaude said he would always choose 'truth over power' and termed his removal as a 'liberation' to voice the struggles of the oppressed. In his statement on social media platforms, Gaude said: 'There can be no greater honour than to be recognised on Goa Revolution Day for standing with the weak and oppressed. I am grateful to govt and the party for liberating me to give voice to the struggle — the very cause for which govt has taken this stance. When faced with the choice between power and truth, I will always choose truth.' Gaude's removal from the cabinet stemmed directly from his attack on the tribal welfare department during a Prerna Din function on May 25, where he launched a scathing criticism of the department's administrative efficiency and transparency, and veiled allegations of corruption. The department is under CM Sawant. Political observers said by terming his dismissal as 'liberation', Gaude has signalled his intention to continue to champion the cause of the tribals despite losing his ministerial position.
NDTV
18-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"A Reward": Minister Govind Gaude Dropped From Goa Cabinet Weeks After Corruption Remarks
Panaji: Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Govind Gaude called the decision a "reward" for him on Goa Revolution Day, which is celebrated on June 18 every year. BJP Goa unit president Damodar Naik confirmed to PTI that Gaude was removed from the council of ministers. State Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas D'Silva said that the Governor of Goa had accepted the recommendation by the CM, following which Gaude ceased to be a member of the council of ministers with immediate effect. Naik, however, didn't mention the official reason for sacking the minister. "This is a decision of the state government," he said without elaborating. CM Sawant was not available for comments. Reacting to the development, Gaude tweeted, "I have been rewarded this fate on the Goa Revolution Day for standing up for the downtrodden communities. Gratitude to my government and the party for liberating me to continue the struggle that I voiced for." Addressing a state-level function on May 26, Gaude had dubbed the state tribal welfare department inefficient and claimed its officers were taking bribes to sign files, drawing a sharp reaction from the BJP, which warned of action. Latching on to Gaude's claims, Congress had demanded that Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai sack the state government for "rampant corruption". The 53-year-old MLA from the Priol assembly segment in North Goa took oath in March 2022, after the BJP won the state elections. Gaude had also served as a minister in the Sawant-led cabinet from 2019 to 22.
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Goa minister dropped from Cabinet after alleging corruption in CM's department
PANAJI: Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Gaude called the decision a 'reward' for him on Goa Revolution Day, which is celebrated on June 18 every year. BJP Goa unit president Damodar Naik confirmed to PTI that Gaude was removed from the council of ministers. State Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas D'Silva said that the Governor of Goa had accepted the recommendation by the CM, following which Gaude ceased to be a member of the council of ministers with immediate effect. Naik, however, didn't mention the official reason for sacking the minister. 'This is a decision of the state government,' he said without elaborating. CM Sawant was not available for comments. Reacting to the development, Gaude tweeted, 'I have been rewarded this fate on the Goa Revolution Day for standing up for the downtrodden communities. Gratitude to my government and the party for liberating me to continue the struggle that I voiced for.'
