Goa cancels ministers’ Brazil trip after outcry

Agencies/Panaji

Goa yesterday called off a planned junket for six legislators to Brazil’s football World Cup, caving in to political pressure over the “waste” of taxpayers’ money.

The proposed trip, costing the coastal state about Rs9mn, had come under sharp criticism as Goa reels under financial stress, especially after a ban on mining two years ago that significantly dented its revenues.

Goa’s Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said next month’s trip was intended as a research mission as Goa is set to host India’s National Games in 2016 and bidding to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament the following year.

“We wanted to study the conduct of the game,” said Tawadkar, who was due to lead the delegation, three of whom were state ministers.

“But considering the public sentiment, the government has decided to drop the proposal and not to go ahead with the visit,” he told reporters.

Tawadkar also snubbed Arjuna award winner and former Indian football captain Bruno Coutinho.

In a press conference at the state secretariat, Tawadkar slighted Coutinho claiming he was only an “employee” of the sports ministry and his word did not carry much weight.

“There are so many Arjuna award winners in the states across India. Does this mean those states also send them (Arjuna award winners) abroad on such trips,” Tawadkar asked.

“Coutinho is only an employee. The government makes the decision about who can and cannot go,” Tawadkar said.

Coutinho, now a joint director (training) with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), has been vocal about him being left out of the Brazil visit, despite being included in first list.

The original list was later vetted by the sports minister and the chief minister’s office after which, the names of six ruling MLAs including three ministers were finalised.

Earlier yesterday one of the state ministers had told local media they would pay for their own trip to Brazil, without burdening the taxpayer.

The state government, run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that swept to power nationally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, had faced scrutiny over the trip from the opposition Congress party.

“When the state has been resorting to increasing borrowings, we don’t understand the reason behind sponsoring this fun trip,” Durgadas Kamat, a local Congress leader, had told reporters in Goa on Thursday.

Norms for foreign visits by ministers tightened

Seeking to streamline overseas visits of ministers, the Prime Minister’s Office has asked them to give at least 10-day prior notice and file a detailed report about the outcome of the visit on return. In an official memorandum, the cabinet secretariat said the proposals seeking approval of the prime minister for official visits abroad should be forwarded to the PMO “at least 10 days before the proposed date of departure as against the earlier stipulation of five days”.