TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Asserting that Manohar Parikar is a big failure as home minister, former home minister Ravi Naik on Tuesday said that a home minister who has no faith in his police force should not continue in office even for a day.
He also said that Goans are disgusted with the Parivartan brought about by the 2012 poll, saying that people have realised they were fooled with empty promises and are awaiting fresh election to bring about a change in government.
During an interaction with the media during his visit to Fatorpa, Ravi said “How can someone run the Home department efficiently when he has no faith in the police force. The only option left open for the Manohar Parrikar is to quit the portfolio”.
Saying that crimes are on the rise in the State during the last one year and half, Ravi said rapes, burglaries and robberies are literally the order of the day in the State. “Where’s the question of people’s safety and security when there are burglaries and robberies almost every day,” he demanded to know, while pointing out that the situation was much better during his tenure as home minister.
He took strong exception to the attack on BJP MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh by hoodlums, saying that violence has no place in a democratic set up. “Vishnu may belong to the BJP, but is a representative elected by the people. If such violent tendencies are not nipped in the bud, other MLAs will come under similar attack,” Ravi said.
Replying to a question on the performance of the Parrikar government, Ravi said the people of Goa are awaiting election to bring about a change in the State. “People of Goa are fed up with the performance of a U-turn chief minister. Mining is closed and people are unemployed. The parivartan has belied the expectations of the people of Goak,” he said, adding “Congress was defeated in the election because our own people connived with our rivals.”
On the possibility of contesting the Lok Sabha polls, Ravi said he is not interested in contesting the 2014 polls, adding that he has neither applied nor expressed his willingness to contest the polls.
On the appointment of John Fernandes as GPCC president, Ravi said “let us wait and see how he performs.”
