Team Herald
VASCO: Reacting to the demand made by Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida at press conference to strip him of his portfolio, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Tuesday said that the decision to drop him from the Cabinet rests with the chief minister.
At a recent press conference, Almeida had demand that Naik be stripped of his Urban Development portfolio for “interfering” in the Mormugao Municipal politics.
Reacting to that demand, Naik said, “It’s for the chief minister to decide if he feels that I am not exercising my duty. But an MLA cannot remove me from the ministerial position.”
When asked to respond to the charges levelled against him by Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar for maintaining his silence on the coal handling and people’s opposition to the issue, Naik said, “Coal handing is carried out with all permissions. I feel that the coal handing operations are going on as per government norms. If there are violations beyond the permissible limits, then let Goa State Pollution Control Board initiate action.”
When asked to comment on Vasco MLA and the councillors’ allegations that he was interfering in municipal affairs, the minister said he has discussed this issue with his party men.
