Khaunte: Protesters from party playing politics against me

Panaji: Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Monday said that he was kept out by those protesting shifting of Dev Khapreshwar temple when terms of consent were signed before Supreme Court agreeing to the demolition.
“When I was in opposition from 2019 to 2022, this is when the people who are speaking against me had signed consent terms in Supreme Court and agreed to shifting of the temple. The matter took place in Supreme Court. There was no role whatsoever of the MLA. When the same people who agreed to the terms start opposing the work, then it appears politics is taking place somewhere at the local level,” said Khaunte about the demolition of the temple at Voddakadde in Porvorim for highway works.
The protesters on Sunday had criticised Khaunte's absence and raised slogans against him.
“We also are devotees of Dev Khapreshwar and the chief minister has already announced what steps we are taking. Those protesting were people of our party itself. They should have thought responsibly in 2019. They had settled the issue then by keeping me out and are now naming me. This is a political drama. It is a sensitive issue which we will handle sensitively. But I do not want to speak about those playing politics over the issue,” said Khaunte.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday that a new temple for Dev Khapreshwar will be constructed at the site where the banyan tree is being translocated.
“Whateverthe CM had promised will be done. The alignment was finalised first and only then the tender for the highway work was awarded. They cannot say the MLA should act when they want and keep me out when they want,” Khaunte said.