TEAM HERALD
PONDA: With former chief minister Manohar Parrikar now a key member of the Union Cabinet as Defence Minister, his predecessor Ravi Naik expects Parrikar to push for Special Status for Goa and intervene to get more land for Dabolim airport.
Addressing a news conference at Ponda on Monday, Naik congratulated Parrikar on being elevated as the country’s Defence Minister and said he has high hopes from him as far as development of the State was concerned.
“Parrikar’s inclusion in the Modi government is a proud moment for Goans, as it is for the first time a Goan is included in the Cabinet and made Defence Minister. I hope he will successfully handle all the problems and intrusions by China and Pakistan and other defence-related matters at the national level,” stated Naik.
“Parrikar is well aware of all the problems of Goa and I hope that the special status for Goa, which he was demanding, will be fulfilled now,” said Naik.
He hoped that Parrikar will help to acquire land at Dabolim airport to provide landing and parking facilities to civilian aircraft.
Naik said he also has expectations from the new Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the first thing he would like him to do was rollback the tenancy amendment and solve the mining problem. Congratulating Parsekar on his elevation, he expects Parsekar to develop Pernem taluka
and solve the sand mining problem.
