‘My wife has never interfered…’: Singed by Sanjay Singh’s cash-for-jobs allegations, Goa CM Sawant hits back

Referring to AAP leader Sanjay Singh, Sawant said, “This MP of the AAP, whose name is being mentioned… he was in jail for two years in the excise scam. He is out on bail now. He has a habit of making false allegations against people… Those who are out on bail in the excise scam should not make allegations against me. I will file a defamation suit against him and he will have to answer in court.”

“The Opposition does not have any other issue. That is why they are making these allegations. My wife is in politics and carries out the BJP’s work, but she has never interfered in any government or administrative matter,” he said.

“I set up the Staff Selection Commission. If someone has given money for a job, I have asked officials to take action against those people. Over 25-30 people have already been sent to jail,” he said.

The alleged “cash-for-jobs” scam pertains to hundreds of victims, who were reportedly lured to pay vast sums to the accused after being promised jobs in various government departments. According to the police, the jobs were promised through the help of the “connections” of the accused. The police have so far registered 32 FIRs – 18 in North Goa and 14 in South Goa – and arrested 44 people for cheating and duping victims in connection with this scam.

Earlier last week, accusing the BJP of “systematically selling government posts”, Sanjay Singh alleged that Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant, his wife Sulakshana Sawant and other BJP MLAs and party workers are involved in connection with the irregularities in the alleged scam.

In a press conference in Delhi last Wednesday, Singh said “jobs are being sold for bribes in Goa.” “The BJP has a long history of selling government jobs, and Goans have learned that merit and skills no longer matter,” he said.