Goa education minister joins Cong
Unattached United Goa Democratic Party (UGDP) legislator and Goa education minister Mr Atanasio Monserrate joined the Congress party on Monday unconditionally.
Addressing the media during the ceremony, chief minister Mr Digambar Kamat told reporters that there was no question of a Cabinet reshuffle as Mr Monserrate had j
oined the party “unconditionally”. Like some other Goan legislators, Mr Monserrate also has a few criminal cases against him, including those of extortion and assault. In 2008, Mr Monserrate and his supporters had assaulted Youth Congress workers in his constituency at Taleigao in North Goa, when the latter were demonstrating for setting up an IT habitat in Dona Paula. In the same year, Mr Monserrate had led a mob and attacked the Panaji police station. Several policemen and women constables were injured in the incident, which is currently being investigated by the CBI.
When asked whether the party high command had anything to say about Mr Monserrate’s criminal background, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Mr Subhash Shirodkar said, “The party high command is fully aware of it. It was their decision, not ours.”
The Goa education minister has also previously been charged with forging papers stating that he completed his matriculation though in reality he is a Class 8 dropout. With Mr Monserrate’s induction into the party, the Congress’ tally in the 40-member Assembly goes up to 19.
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