PANJIM: The Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday informed that there was no proposal before the State government to hold Defexpo 2018 in Goa, at least for now.
“So far there is no communication from the Defence Ministry on holding Defexpo 2018 in Goa. If the Ministry wants it, we can consider the proposal but for that they will have to write to us,” Parrikar told media persons while responding to a question.
“We can consider it but I have not said whether I will consider it positively or negatively. Once they write, we will take a decision based on that,” he said, adding “if I was the Defence Minister then it would have been a different story.”
When Parrikar took over the reins of the defence ministry for a short period, he had moved the defence expo from Pragati Madian in Delhi to Goa. In March 2016, it was held at Quitol, Quepem, a decision that came in for sharp criticism from activists in Goa and defence establishments in the national capital.
“If you ask me, it is a golden opportunity where money can be spent by the exhibition wing of the defence force. They have an exhibition society with large funds accumulated over the years,” he said.
“The defence can build up a state-of-art exhibition ground, where not only defence but many other exhibitions can actually take place, ensuring that area gets continuous year-long business, right from Quepem to Mormugao, Salcete,” Parrikar stated.
