TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva on Monday has pooh-poohed claims made by Adv Radharao Gracias that the Delhi high court has not granted any stay on the union home ministry’s order ruling him as a Portuguese citizen.
Caitu told the media in the presence of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at Navelim that the Delhi high court has issued clear cut directions that no coercive action shall be taken against him for a period of eight weeks in pursuance to the order dated November 20, 2013, passed by the union home ministry. Adv Radharao is representing petitioner John Fernandes, who had approached the union home ministry with a complaint that the Benaulim MLA is a Portuguese citizen and should be disqualified as a member of the Goa legislative assembly.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also agreed that the Delhi high court has given a clear direction not to take coercive action against the Benaulim MLA for a period of eight weeks. “The court might not have used the word stay, but the high court direction is very clear that no coercive action can be initiated against the Benaulim MLA for a period of eight weeks”, Parrikar said.
Caitu told the media that he has full faith in the judiciary, while reiterating that he is an Indian citizen and holds an Indian passport and had never applied for Portuguese citizenship.
