PANJIM: Minutes after BJP’s national president Amit Shah announced no leadership change in Goa; the Congress on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is blackmailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on Rafale deal issue due to which the party leaders don’t dare to ask him to resign.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar claimed that Parrikar, who was then Defence Minister, had lot of information about the deal, due to which Modi and Shah are afraid of him.
Chodankar was reacting to the tweet by Shah, Sunday afternoon, in which he had ruled out leadership change in Goa, as Parrikar will continue to be the Chief Minister.
“I am sure Manohar Parrikar must be having lot of information about Rafale deal as he was the Defence Minister that time,” he said.
“Parrikar is refusing to resign from the Chief Minister’s post. They (BJP) have no courage to ask for his resignation because of Rafale deal,” he added.
“It is a huge scam as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is totally linked. I think Manohar Parrikar is using that information against them (Modi and Shah) and they are blackmailed by Parrikar,” Chodankar alleged.
“They are asking you (Parrikar) to resign. Is Parrikar so powerful that PM or BJP National President cannot ask him to resign?” he questioned.
BJP had sent three Central Observers last weekend to take stock of the political situation after Parrikar was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi.
Responding to the stand taken by BJP not to replace the Chief Minister, Chodankar alleged that Shah’s tweet is “height of arrogance.” For the last seven months, the Chief Minister could not give time for the administration. The cabinet meetings are not held. So many promotions are held back, so many files are pending,” he claimed.
“We are going through financial crisis. The State government is just borrowing money. The administration has collapsed,” he alleged.
Chodankar pointed out that three ministers are in the hospital. “We pray for their speedy recovery but they are making a mockery of people of Goa,” he charged.
“If national president is so insensitive to the needs of the people, I don’t know what to say. They are totally insensitive….they are not able to take a decision,” Chodankar alleged.
Besides Parrikar, two other ministers – Pandurang Madkaikar and Francis D’Souza are in hospitals.
The Congress leader said that Goa is becoming sick. “If this continues, Goa will be in ICU,” he added.
