Team Herald
PANJIM: Congress party on Monday questioned Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s silence on the mining issue in his first video message, since he began his treatment in USA. The video was released on Sunday during BJP’s booth convention addressed by BJP National president Amit Shah.
The opposition also slammed Shah for his silence on the contentious Mhadei water diversion issue, which he had raked up during the campaign to the Karnataka elections, with BJP promising water to the famers there.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson Sidhanath Buyao said that while he wishes the Chief Minister a speedy recovery and sympathises with him, it was pathetic to see, how BJP used his video message to troubleshoot the situation after Congress demanded a full-time Chief Minister.
“We were also surprised that Parrikar, who always speaks about Nation first and eventually State first, was talking about his party in the two-minute video. He was more bothered about the Lok Sabha elections, which we are sure that BJP is going to lose,” Buyao said.
“Unfortunately, there was no statement on mining, Mhadei and several unconstitutional things that are currently happening in Goa. As Chief Minister, he should have thrown some light on these important issues,” he added.
He added that Parrikar should also have announced when the next Assembly session would be summoned, as the Budget session was curtailed over his health issues with many questions remaining pending.
Parrikar in the video message announced his return in the next few weeks and urged party workers to start preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, to ensure the party wins both seats.
Speaking on Shah’s silence on the Mhadei issue, Congress said it clearly indicated that he did make the promise to provide water to Karnataka farmers. “If he had not promised, he would have made some statement in Goa,” Buyao said.
Congress said the BJP leaders, who swear by their love for the State, should have asked their national president to make some statement clarifying the confusion created over the river dispute. “BJP has been very inconsistent on this issue, and are bending according to the wind. We want that BJP should come out with a clear stand on the issue,” he demanded.
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Not a political meeting, says BJP
With political opponents questioning BJP national president Amit Shah’s silence over the Mhadei issue during his meeting in Goa on Sunday, the BJP state unit clarified that the ‘meeting’ was not political but only restricted to motivate workers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to media persons, Minister Francis D’Souza said Shah was in Goa to address the booth convention and not to hold a political meet. “Shah was here to encourage the workers and make them ready for future challenges. It was not a political meeting. Hence, there was no question of Shah raising the Mhadei issue,” he stated.
D’Souza also said that the mining issue will now gain momentum with the assurance of Shah. “Once he assures something he does it. He has assured solution for the mining issue which means it will happen,” he said.
