PANJIM: The political slugfest between Panjim MLA Babush Monserrate and Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chef Minister Manohar Parrikar, over the mess and corruption in the works of Smart City escalated a notch further, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant saying “Small-time politicians should not do politics using his name.”
Speaking to reporters on the side-lines of an event in the city, Sawant said, “Manohar Parrikar is one of the tallest leaders. He has done so much for the development works. Nobody should do politics over him. He is above the party. We cannot forget the development for which he is instrumental.”
“Nobody should use his name for their political gains. He (Parrikar) is one of the tall leaders,” the Chief Minister said.
Echoing the sentiment, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President and MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade said, “Nobody should make a statement using his name for their political gains.”
Recently Utpal Parrikar took potshots at Panjim MLA Babush Monserrate blaming him for the mess in Panjim and the failed Smart City works. The MLA hit back saying all city contractors were brought in by Manohar Parrikar and promised that all works of Panjim would be completed by May 31 2024.
Junior Parrikar responded immediately by saying “Ask him (Monserrate) to write all this (promises) on a piece of paper and show it.”
Earlier, addressing a press conference, former BJP Mahila Morcha president Dr Sheetal Naik said, “When Parrikar was alive then the current MLA was a ‘Bhigi Billi’ (a colloquial term sued for timidity). This is not my statement but it is known to all. But today when he is not amongst us, then Monserrate is blaming him for all his failures.”
