Team Herald
PANJIM: With Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar ailing and frankly no one in Goa with his stature to dabble with the Centre on the absolutely vexed mining crisis, the Prime Minister’s trusted Highways and Shipping Minister (and not the Mines minister) Nitin Gadkari landed in Goa, barely hours after Panjim’s streets were forcibly cleared of protestors from the mining belt who had caused mayhem on the capital’s streets through Monday.
His first mission is to preside over the State government seeking the legal opinion of three top lawyers of the country before filing a review petition in the Supreme Court on the mining issue.
According to sources, Gadkari, who is in Goa, deliberated with BJP MLAs and functionaries on the mining issue and the adverse effects of the Supreme Court ban. Mining area MLAs put forth their views before Gadkari, who assured to find a solution, said a source. “Top three lawyers will be consulted on filing a review petition in Supreme Court,” he said.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the regular misgivings or apprehensions of
a leadership change in Goa, was also discussed. “We told him that wrong news is being spread on instability of the government and importing MLAs from other parties and offering them leadership,” Lobo said. He said that the MLAs urged Gadkari to clear the air on the issue.
“He assured us there is no leadership change and Manohar Parrikar will be back as CM soon. He will be back stronger,” Lobo said.
Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, Speaker Pramod Sawant, Ministers Francis D’Souza, Pandurang Madkaikar, Mauvin Godinho, Dy Speaker Michael Lobo, MLAs Rajesh Patnekar, Glenn Ticlo, Alina Saldanha, Milind Naik, Pravin Zantye, Nilesh Cabral, MPs Narendra Sawaikar and Vinay Tendulkar met Gadkari.
