PANJIM: Threatening to move the court seeking an accurate status of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s health condition, Congress on Friday demanded that BJP should produce proof that the chief minister is healthy.
Addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu said that the BJP has been repeatedly lying that the CM would join the office soon. “BJP Goa chief Vinay Tendulkar has now said that he would resume office in November. What does this mean? Is he currently on leave? Or, has government kept his post in abeyance for some time?” he asked.
“There is a saying in Konkani ‘baap dakhay na jalyar shradh kar’ (show father or do the final rites). (The) same is applicable here. CM dakhayat na jalyar shradh karat (Show us the CM or perform his last rites),” he demanded.
Deshprabhu said that the Chief Minister, who is a constitutional authority to run the State, should be physically and mentally fit to run the administration. “Let the BJP produce proof in the form of a video message that Chief Minister is healthy, fit to walk, talk and is alive. Let the party tell us whether the chief minister has life to run the State,” he said.
Setting a deadline of four days, the Congress has threatened to move the court to know the status of the chief minister’s health. “We will move the court for a direction to either set up a commission to inspect the CM’s health or to call for a doctor from the USA to update the court on the current health condition of the chief Minister,” he threatened.
He added, “Everyone knows how the CM was discharged from the AIIMS. He was (brought) out on a stretcher on October 14 and after that no one knows what has happened. Don’t misguide public. People have the right to know about the health condition of their CM.”
Deshprabhu said that doctors from Goa Medical College and Hospital are monitoring the chief minister. “Despite this, people are kept in the dark about his health,” he said, adding, “It is not the business of the family but of government to release health bulletin of the CM.”
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday had refused to divulge details about the CM’s health claiming “it is for the family members of Parrikar to speak about his health”.
The Congress spokesman alleged that the Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister was misusing his powers and other officers are forced to oblige his (OSD) order.
