It seemed that Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar was not prepared to field questions from the opposition benches in the just-concluded winter session of the Legislative Assembly. Or, he was perhaps forced in this situation on being provided inaccurate details by his department that recently saw the controversial shuffling of its director – IAS officer Ameya Abhyankar.
Not the opposition benches alone, his very own party colleague and neighbouring MLA from Calangute constituency Michael Lobo cornered him over incomplete information tabled in the Assembly. Amidst raining questions demanding ‘proper reply,’ protem Speaker Mauvin Godinho had to intervene advising the minister to be prepared with replies and suggesting action against tourism officials for not doing their homework.
The BJP minister faced the wrath of the Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, Nuvem legislator Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco, Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte, Lobo who insisted on several clarifications such as knowing the number of tourists arriving at Dabolim airport, issuance of tourist visas on arrival and coordination with AAI besides other details on tourism in Goa.
Every reply of Parulekar was countered by the legislators who pointed out a number of loopholes and incomplete submission of replies. Khaunte accused the department of giving misleading figures while Rane went to the extent calling him an ‘incompetent minister.’
Parulekar was certainly left embarrassed but did try to tackle the legislators at his own level stating if questions were specific, he would be in a better position to reply with accurate details. This comment forced Godinho to intervene in the discussion who told the minister that ‘Goa is a tourist State and all required details should have been available whether or not the MLAs asked pointed questions.These are simple things.’
Accusation of wasting nearly Rs 19 crores on foreign junkets and another Rs 75-odd crores on the beach cleaning contract prompted heated discussion in the House. Not satisfied with “irrelevant replies” the opposition demanded a half-an-hour discussion when the session was underway, only to be forgotten later. Ironically, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar – who tried to put himself in the shoes of former CM Manohar Parrikar by coming to the rescue of his colleagues – did not do so in this case.
