Team Herald
PANJIM: While accusing Congress party of trying to gain “publicity” by way of holding morcha on Chief Minister’s private residence, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday claimed that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and two other ailing MLAs- Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar would attend the next Session of Goa Legislative Assembly.
The ruling party has dared the Congress to move the court for the dismissal of their government.
Around hundreds of people including leaders from political parties like Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena on Tuesday held a morcha at Chief Minister’s residence at Dona Paula demanding his resignation owing to health condition. Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment at residence, is suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Addressing media persons, BJP President Vinay Tendulkar condemned the morcha alleging that it was instigated by Congress party, who is trying to gain publicity, having left with no other issues to corner government. “We condemn the unethical act of the Congress led people. We would like to put on record that Chief Minister is unwell and that he is not faking or pretending it to be,” he said.
“One should not forget that he is a statesman, a person who has successfully executed infra projects, worked tirelessly to improve and raise life and education standards of Goans. He even gave us a pride by becoming Defence Minister of the country. And when he is ill, it is condemnable to see that Congress party for mere publicity is stoop so low,” Tendulkar commented.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP recalled when Jawaharlal Nehru were prime minister, he suffered paralysis during his last three years in power and was not able to discharge his duties. “But BJP at that time never held any morcha on their residence nor demanded his resignation. We stood with the leader,” he stated.
He also pointed out that when Congress was in power in the Centre, Sharad Pawar was the Agriculture minister. “That time also Pawar was suffering from Cancer and getting treated abroad. But we never complained about it and never asked for his resignation,” he said.
Rubbishing the claims, made by BJP’s alliance partner MGP, that CM and two other BJP MLAs are terminally ill, Tendulkar said that all the three leaders will attend the next assembly session. “They are not terminally ill. They will attend next Session of the Assembly,” he said.
MGP, in its petition filed before the High Court to disqualify two Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte for resigning as MLA and joining BJP, has claimed that Parrikar, D’Souza and Madkaikar are terminally ill.
