PANJIM: Congress on Saturday accused the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of trying to evoke public sympathy over Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s illness to garner votes for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu accused them of playing with the health of the Chief Minister due to their political lust. “It is very unfortunate that the BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister, are taking undue advantage of Chief Minister’s health to gain public sympathy, which they presume will be converted into votes during the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
Deshprabhu said that the Prime Minister during his visit to inquire about Parrikar’s health at Lilavati Hospital in February should have forced him to step down, so that he could take care of his health. “But party allowed him to continue only because they have no alternative to Parrikar. Also, it was a well calculated game keeping in mind parliamentary elections, which are due next year,” he alleged.
Parrikar, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, is currently recuperating at his personal residence at Dona Paula. He was discharged from AIIMS, Delhi last month.
Reacting to the recent Cabinet and Investment Promotion Board meetings, chaired by the Chief Minister, the Congress leader claimed that Parrikar was sitting like a “Gulacho ganapati” (statue), making no movement. “It was very unfortunate and cruel on the part of BJP to make him sit like that for a picture just because we raised doubts of his existence,” he stated.
