Latest Politics News
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte tells APN News: “If you do wrong, the people will show you the way home…”
In an exclusive interview to APN News, Goa’s Tourism, Information Technology, including Printing and Stationery, Minister Rohan Khaunte spoke of the future of Goa scaling new heights in tourism. Khaunte not only wants to imprint the identity of Goa on the world map as a location for beautiful beaches but also for history, tradition and heritage. Excerpts from the interview:
Question: How will tourism of Goa evolve over the next 20 years, what initiatives are you taking to further it?
Minister Khaunte: Till now, the tourism of Goa was dependent on the excellent sea here, but now we are moving forward thinking of changing this image of Goa. Tourists will come to Goa only when we make special preparations for new and different programmes for them. Every year, no one will come to see the sea of Goa. Goa will now witness many projects like Spiritual, Adventure Tourism, Eco and Hinterland Tourism, which will be a huge opportunity for tourists. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Mopa airport in North Goa. This project will provide many possibilities in the tourism sector. Along with tourism, we have also started the facility of home stay, under which tourists will get a pleasant experience of tourism in the interior areas of Goa.
Question: What steps are being taken for the protection of the environment in Goa in the next 10 years?
Minister Khaunte: The natural environment is God’s gift to Goa. No new tourism project will come up which will harm this environment. Before bringing a new project, a complete study of its impact on the environment will be done. No project will be approved without study, which may become a threat to the environment here. We have constituted the Goa State Tourism Board, which decides on the proposal for a new project after brainstorming. Goa is the first state to constitute this board.
Question: After late Manohar Parrikar, you are representing the people of Goa in other parts of the country, how do you see the political future of Goa as a minister?
Minister Khaunte: I have been an eyewitness to many political ups and downs in Goa, I have also been a participant several times. I worked as the Minister of Revenue, Employment, Printing and Printed Materials for two-and-a-half years in the Parrikar government. In the Assembly elections of 2012 and 2017, I was elected as an independent candidate. But in the 2022 election, I contested as a BJP candidate and won. It is true that along with Parrikarji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Maharashra CM and current Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have also been instrumental in my joining the party. I consider myself a public servant first. It is my earnest desire to do the work necessary for the welfare of the people of Goa along with the keeping the image of Goa.
Question: How do you see your political future?
Minister Khaunte: Politics is the only field where what you think does not happen. Your future is decided by the people who elect you. Do good work, you will get good results. If you do a wrong thing, the people can also show you the way home. The people liked the work I did as an independent MLA till now, this is the reason that voters gave me a third chance in March 2022 after joining the BJP. It is my duty to not let down the trust reposed in me by the people for the third time. I am dedicated to fulfilling my duty. I know that if one does good work, the people will support you.
Question: How can cultural and heritage tourism of Goa be handled in an era of modernization?
Minister Khaunte: The cultural and heritage tourism of Goa has progressed with tradition for many years. The cultural and traditional tourism here has been the specialty of Goa. Temples, churches and many historical sites have been highlights of Goa’s tourism. Be it the Mahadev Temple of Tambdi Surla, Saptakoteshwar Temple of Narve or other temples of Goa, thousands of years of heritage is behind it. Even after years, his specialty did not get affected in the era of modernization. Recently, the Saptakoteshwar temple in Narve was reconstructed. But during this time, care was taken that the tradition and history were maintained. This temple was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Question: What role will the Information Technology sector play in presenting the tourism industry of Goa to the world?
Minister Khaunte: The role of the Information Technology sector will be very important. In the digital age, where all the services are under the control of information technology, integration of tourism sector with it can bring a big change. Goa is the only state where we started the concept of #WorkingGoa. Under this, the IT class coming to Goa could stay connected to office along with their vacation. Work is on to bring about improvements in connectivity issues in rural areas. Tourism and information technology have an inextricable relationship. This relationship has been worked out keeping in mind that both will walk on a new path of development in the region which is just beginning.
Question: What is your opinion about the political ups and downs at the Centre in 2024 and how can Goa’s economy go ahead other than tourism?
Minister Khaunte: Not only the whole country, the world is also watching the work experience of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That’s why India has emerged as Vishwaguru. Keeping this in view, I do not think that there is a possibility of a change at the Centre in 2024. It is the good fortune of India to have a leader like Modi. The India which other countries were seeing from a different point of view till date has now changed, and everyone is now looking at India with respect. This is the charisma of Modi. This is the result of his ideology, I believe. As for 2024, this time the slogan of 400 (Lok Sabha seats) will be there.
If you talk about Goa’s economy, the mining has been its mainstay till now, but after it was stopped, the burden of the state’s economy fell on tourism industry. Over the years, tourism has contributed a lot to revenue. It will increase further with new projects and possibilities.
Many new proposals are in front to strengthen the economy of Goa, which is dependent on the tourism industry. They will be implemented only after detailed consideration. These schemes have the potential to boost tourism as well as strengthen the economy of the state.
India News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds massive roadshow at Palakkad in Kerala
The roadshow started after 10:45 am from Kottamaidan anchuvilakku, proceeding towards the head post office in the city. BJP state president K Surendran, BJP palakkad candidate C Krishna Kumar and candidate of the adjacent Ponnani constituency, Viveditha Subramanian, also accompanied the prime minister in the open vehicle.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow at Palakkad in Kerala on Tuesday that witnessed the participation of thousands of BJP workers and supporters. He reached Palakkad around 10:30 am, held a roadshow of over 30 minutes in the city. The roadshow started after 10:45 am from Kottamaidan anchuvilakku, proceeding towards the head post office in the city.
BJP state president K Surendran, BJP Palakkad candidate C Krishna Kumar and candidate of the adjacent Ponnani constituency, Viveditha Subramanian, also accompanied the prime minister in the open vehicle. Supporters present at either side of the road showered the prime minister with flowers and slogans supporting Modi and BJP.
Ahead of PM Modi’s roadshow, the Bharatiya Janata Party held a bike rally in the town on Monday evening. Modi’s Pallakkad roadshow follows his recent participation at a public meeting in Pathanamthitta town on March 15, where he rallied support for NDA candidates contesting in the southern Kerala constituencies.
Addressing a public gathering in Pathanamthitta, PM Modi said the Lotus is going to bloom in Kerala in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and attacked the ruling Left and the opposition Congress-led UDF, alleging that the people of the state have endured hardship under government plagued by corruption and incompetence.
In Kerala both LDF and UDF engage in apparent conflict but unite in Delhi. The Congress labels the Left government as fascist, while the Communists criticize Congress for Corruption. Yet they form alliances in the capital. He said both parties have deceived Kerala extensively. Kerala’s populace has now seen through this deception.
The prime minister has visited Kerala several times this year. He has also paid visits to famous temples in Kerala. Earlier on Monday PM Modi visited Karnataka’s Shivamogga and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. He attacked the Congress ruled government in the state and said the Congress leaders are only capable of telling blatant lies.
India News
Bhupesh Baghel cornered as Congress on a downhill roll in Chhattisgarh
Several Congressmen, including grassroots workers, are now making a beeline for the BJP. The Congress is yet to announce its remaining 6 candidates from Chhatisgarh for the Lok Sabha.
By Neeraj Mishra
The Congress in Chhattisgarh is on a downward slide ever since it lost the Assembly elections three months ago. It has only caught more steam with a slew of new developments. The foremost, of course, is the FIR against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadev App case.
A betting app, Mahadev App had come into the news about eight months ago on the eve of state elections. The people behind this App, Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, are now based out of Dubai and had been running the satta racket which allegedly produced Rs 5000 crore in two years. They are accused by the Enforcement Directorate of making fake PayTm and other digital accounts in thousands of names and transferring money to Dubai via hawala. Mahadev App came into prominence when Chandrakar spent a whopping Rs 200 crore on his wedding celebrations in Dubai inviting the who’s who of Bollywood from Ranbir Kapoor to Jacqueline Fernandes.
That being the background, developments during the Assembly elections revealed that some Rs 500 crore had been given to Baghel as pay off. The ED had subsequently registered an FIR with the state Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to investigate the case based on information supplied by it against two dozen accused. Subsequently, the EOW carried out raids at the premises of several accused named including former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. Now, Baghel has also been named in the FIR allegedly filed on March 4 but details were revealed on March 17. Ironically, the FIR was filed under the charge of DM Awasthi, former DGP of Chhattisgarh Police, living on extension granted by Baghel and given charge of EOW.
Ironically, after Awasthi delivered on all the above—filing of FIR, raiding officers and other accused and including Baghel’s name charged under six sections—he was today relieved of his charge. IG Raipur Amresh Mishra has now taken over EOW. Awasthi on a year’s extension has not yet resigned.
As Baghel prepares to fight a losing battle in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, he is now under tremendous pressure. More pressure was placed on him today by his own partyman former PCC general secretary Arun Sisodiya, who has accused two of his closest aides of siphoning party funds. In a letter to PCC president Deepak Baij, Sisodiya accused party treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal of giving Rs 5.89 crore to Vinod Verma’s son without due process and proper sanction. Verma was Baghel’s political advisor and brother-in-law. Sisodiya says Verma’s son runs Tesu Media Limited, Ghaziabad and was paid the money by Agarwal without the sanction from then PCC president Mohan Markam. Tesu Media had run part of the election campaign for the Congress during the Assembly elections.
Several Congressmen, including grassroots workers, are now making a beeline for the BJP. Saroj Pandey, former Rajya Sabha member, who is now contesting from the Korba seat recently inducted a couple of hundred Congress workers in her new constituency. Sakti is part of her constituency and today, the son of former Sakti Congress MLA Surendra Bahadur joined the BJP.
The Congress has not yet been able to announce candidates for six of the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies. Chhattisgarh will vote in three phases between April 27 and May 7.
India News
RLJP President Pashupathi Kumar Paras resigns from Modi Cabinet after his party is denied seats in upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in Bihar
Pashupathi Kumar Paras said his party had 5 MPs and they had worked with utmost sincerity. He added injustice has been done to him and his party. As a result he is resigning from the post of the Union Minister.
Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) President Pashupathi Kumar Paras on Tuesday resigned from the Modi cabinet, a day after his party was denied any seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. He said the NDA alliance announced the list of 40 candidates for Bihar Lok Sabha election.
He said his party had 5 MPs and they had worked with utmost sincerity. He added injustice has been done to him and his party. As a result he is resigning from the post of the Union Minister. He had on Friday accused the BJP of not doing justice to his LJP faction and indicated that he may walkout of the ruling National Democratic Alliance. He said they are free to go anywhere and the doors are open.
On Monday, the NDA partners announced seat sharing in Bihar. According to the deal, the BJP will contest 17 seats, while Nitish Kumar led JD(U) will contest 16 and Chirag Paswan’s LJP will fight on 5.
Chirag-led LJP will contest on 5 seats- Jamui, Khagariya, Samastipur, Hajipur and Vaishali. In the last election, the undivided LJP had won 6 seats. Pashupati Paras was expecting these seats for his party. But the BJP went with Chirag. There was no mention of seat sharing with the LJP faction led by Minister Pashupati Paras. When Bihar BJP chief Samrat Chaudhary was asked about it, he said talks with him are undergoing.
Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) will contest 1 seat each. Among the key seats that the BJP will be contesting from are Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Aurangabad, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzzaffarpur, Maharajganj, Saran, Begusarai, Nawada, Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Aara, Buxar and Sasaram.
The JD(U) has been given Valmikinagar, Sitamadhi, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Madhepura, Gopalganj, Siwan, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Sheohar seats.
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