Minister hits back at Cong criticism

PANJIM: Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari hit back at the Congress saying that if they had the numbers why didn’t they not stake claim to form the next government.

Addressing media persons after BJP had staked claim to form the next government, Gadkari said, “MGP, GFP said during our discussions that if Manohar Parrikar becomes Goa CM candidate, they will support. Manohar Parrikar will have to give his resignation as Defence Minister before becoming Goa CM, but he has not given it yet.”

Gadkari said, “When none of the parties could get an absolute majority in Goa, it was obvious that we would form the government with the like-minded parties. I held meetings with the MGP and the GFP leaders who put forth the condition that they would support the party only if government is led by Manohar Parrikar.”

Gadkari said he had put up the feelings of the like-minded parties before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah. “I explained to them that deputing Parrikar back to Goa is in the interest of the state and the stability of the government that would be formed. The decision to move Parrikar to Goa has also been endorsed by BJP Parliamentary Board,” he added.

Dhavalikar said, “The MGP did have some reservations which have been sorted out. We have forged an alliance for the betterment of Goa and Goans. Only BJP can give a stable government and hence we have decided to support them,” he said.

Goa Forward’s Vijai Sardesai said, “We have decided to support BJP to form the government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar. We will evolve a common minimum programme within one month of formation of government.”

Extending support to Parrikar, Sardesai said, “We do not see anybody else in the BJP legislature party capable of leading Goa. We want maximum development. We cannot waste this mandate of 3 out of four seats contested. We wanted a stable government and only BJP can give it at this moment,” he said.

Refuting allegations of betraying Goans, he said, “We will never make any compromise on the issue of Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn but for this we need a stable government,” he said.

“I feel only Parrikar can give stable government and take Goa forward in terms of development,” Sardesai added.