Team Herald
PANJIM: Demanding complete ban on import from fish others States, the Congress party has accused Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of compromising on the formalin-fish issue, against the interest of people, to ensure stability of the coalition government.
Addressing media persons on Sunday, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that in a bid to ensure stability of the coalition government, Chief Minister has surrendered himself to the demands and actions of Vijai Sardesai, who is out to destroy the State.
“Chief Minister has no control over his cabinet. He has become a puppet and totally surrendered himself to the demands of Vijai Sardesai. Be it on the issue of regional plan 2021 or outline development plan or formalin fish or fish mafia. Parrikar wants to ensure that his Chief Minister’s chair is safe and for that he has readily compromised interest of people,” he alleged.
Questioning Chief Minister’s silence on operation of fish mafia, Chodankar has demanded complete ban on import of fish into Goa. “Why we need chemically poisoned fish to consume, when we harvest enough fish locally? We demand that government should completely ban import of fish,” he said.
“Also, government should impose certain restrictions on fish export. The fish varieties, which are not consumed locally, only be allowed to be exported,” Congress leader demanded further.
Government is currently on backfoot over the formalin-fish issue. After initially declaring formalin content in fish through a raid on the trucks at South Goa wholesale market, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in a u-turn, said that the formalin content is within ‘permissible limit’. The confusion created by FDA has developed fear in the minds of people.
Government has currently imposed 15-day long ban on import of fish from the neighbouring States.
Chodankar has raised doubts about Chief Minister’s involvement in changing the FDA report on fish-formalin. “I strongly feel that Chief Minister is involved in changing the report. He took control over FDA,” he said.
When asked whether Chief Minister’s illness has taken toll over his credibility to take stern action on such contentious issues, Chodankar indirectly reacted positively. “That is there…I had advised chief Minister that he should take break as now is not in position to handle pressure,” he commented.
“Parrikar is not just an administrative head but also a political head. Looks like, post his return, he has become completely blind on the issues which are against public interest,” he alleged.
Chodankar said that formalin issue has hit BJP so hard, that its own cadres are cursing this government.
