PANJIM:  Reacting to the Monday Cabinet discussion that the Central government is not in favour of finding a solution to the mining crisis in Goa, GPCC President Girish Chodankar squarely blamed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the mess.

He demanded Parrikar’s resignation as Goa’s Mining Minister as well as the Chief Minister only then a lasting solution can be found to the mining crisis. 

Chodankar said it was Parrikar, who proudly claimed in 2012 to have closed down mining in Goa and since then he is talking about restarting of mining without any results. 

“Parrikar has been fooling the people for more than a year after the Supreme Court order and the BJP leaders, Union ministers, Cabinet ministers, BJP MPs, have been making misleading statements with multiple options of corporation, amendments to Act, Ordinance, etc,” he said. 

Chodankar said they have also been changing timelines since then. 

“Today, the people of Goa are convinced beyond doubt that BJP leaders bluffed the mining dependents over last one year on the crisis that they themselves created and they failed to convince the Central government to find solutions. It’s only Parrikar’s greed for power that does not allow him to admit his blunders and unless he acknowledges his blunders he will not be able to solve the problem,” he claimed. 

Chodankar alleged that the main obstacle to the mining solution is Parrikar and it can be solved only with his resignation.

Rafale exposé on Parrikar: Responding to Goencho Avaaz Co-Convener Capt Viriato Fernandes on Monday, who raised some crucial questions about Parrikar’s involvement in the Rafale Deal particularly with respect to procedural deviation and most disturbingly about offset companies in the deal like Reliance probably having business dealings with hostile countries like Pakistan and China, Chodankar said, Capt Viriato with his experience in the Indian Navy is well versed with all the procedures. 

“It is important that Parrikar gives an answer to each of the questions that Goencho Avaaz has raised. Goa has a history of sending good MPs to the Parliament, who have contributed immensely from Erasmo de Sequeira, Eduardo Falieiro, Shantaram Naik etc,” he said. 

He said Parrikar’s reputation as corrupt has been exposed because of the Rafale deal. 

“It’s time he comes out clean and answers Captain Viriato’s questions. The Congress party in Delhi is already looking into the questions raised by Capt and we will raise these issues in Delhi as well,” he added.