PANJIM: Appealing to the people not to take the Congress seriously on the ‘fish-formalin’ issue, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday slammed the Opposition for trying to eliminate the livelihood of the local fishing community and challenged the party leaders to a debate.
Addressing media persons, Rane alleged that Congress is frustrated for having failed to get a majority to stake claim to form a government in the State and so is trying to create disturbance and fear in the minds of people through the formalin-fish issue.
Reiterating that there is no formalin in Goan fish, Rane said the people need not fear as far as consumption of fish is concerned as the government is committed to ensure quality food is made available.
“Congress is depressed for being out of power and unfortunately they are trying to find issues to create confusion in the ruling coalition which they will never succeed,” the Minister said. “They have raked up the formalin issue to misguide people and divert their attention from their foolishness. Congress president Girish Chodankar and his followers are playing with the staple diet of the State,” he alleged, questioning whether Congress leaders are experts or even know how to use the rapid test kit to determine formalin concentration in fish.
Asserting that FDA conducts random checks in the fish markets of Panjim, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco for chemical-laced fish, the Minister said the government will never compromise with the health of its people.
He challenged Chodankar and his party Ex Chief Ministers for a debate with him on the formalin issue and other political issues. He said he would send a FDA team along with the media to any fish market that Congress leaders want to check formalin in fish. “Let the place and time be decided by Congress. I will send my team,” Rane said.
