Sirsat blamed for mishandling issue
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MARCEL, DEC 18
Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, the two NCP ministers who have been reportedly asked to step down from the cabinet on Saturday, have blasted State NCP President Surendra Sirsat for mishandling the issue.
D’Souza and Halarnkar were speaking to reporters after visiting Bethora-Ponda on Saturday evening to attend a programme, where both were felicitated by Shree Parwadeshwar Maharaj for their contributions to society.
“Sirsat jumped to the conclusion without even hearing our side and asked me to step down,” Halarnkar.
“Sirsat had asked me to step down, but I don’t think he has acted responsibly. If some issues were there, a meeting of the executive committee should have convened and then only the decision should have taken,” said Halarnkar.
When asked whether he felt that Sirsat was unfit to head the state NCP unit, Halarnkar replied: “No, no, I am not saying that. But you see, when students make mistakes it is the responsibility of the headmaster to discuss the issue with teachers and interact with their parents to resolve the issue,” said Halarnkar.
D’Souza claimed he had not received official orders from the state NCP till Saturday evening.
“I haven’t received anything from Sirsat. I came to know only through the media. I don’t know what the whole issue is about, but it should have been resolved systematically. Our high command has not told us anything so far,” D’Souza said.
When asked if both would step down as directed by the NCP, they said the decision to remove them from the ministry rests with the high command and they would abide by it.
However, both D’Souza and Halarnkar denied reports in the media and instead, claimed that they merely had a “get-together” at a friend’s residence. “There have been different reports in the media of my visit to Sardessai’s house. I visited him only because of my friendship and nothing else. Our high command, Sharad Pawar, is a well experienced person and I am sure he won’t take any decision in haste. I don’t fear being stripped off the ministerial berth. I am loyal worker of the NCP and never had any demands,” said Halarnkar.
