the goan I network
MARGAO
Ahead of the much-awaited Cabinet meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday, leader of the key alliance partner Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said the BJP should not take the coalition partners for granted, even going to the extent of saying that the administration has been hit not only because of the Chief Minister’s illness, but because of an insensitive bureaucracy.
“It is a fact that the administration has been affected because of the Chief Minister’s illness. It is an open secret that Parrikar was a workaholic and his immobilization has hit the administration,” he said. Sardesai, however, blamed what he termed as an “insensitive bureaucracy” behind the state of affairs in the administration. He cited the case of the case of the infrastructure tax exemption sought to be granted to Goans, who are born in Goa, and planning to build a residential house. “This decision to grant exemption was taken on the floor of the House right in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. But, the decision has till date not benefitted the people of Goa as the file has been shuttling between the Law department and the office of the Advocate General”, he said, while expressing his unhappiness over the attitude of the Law department.
On Minister Govind Gaude’s tirade directed at the PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar, the TCP Minister said that Gaude’s statement that Sudin should first quit the government and then comment on the leadership issue was in bad taste. “The MGP and Sudin Dhavlikar has been with us right from day one to form the coalition government. Gaude’s statement was in bad taste given the stature of Sudin Dhavlikar in this government”, he added.
When asked whether he is ready to concede that Sudin is the senior most member of the Cabinet, Sardesai replied in the positive, raising questions in political circles whether the leaders of the regional parties have resolved their differences.
The TCP Minister also attacked the Congress leaders for raising health issues of Parrikar, saying it is a clear attempt by the opposition to divert attention over its failure to keep its flock together. “The Congress has lost two MLAs and they fear that many more may be bracing up to quit the party. By repeatedly raising the health issues of Chief Minister, the Congress leaders are trying to divert the attention from the defection to the government”, he added.
