PANAJI
Accusing her of acting partisan in favour of the BJP-led ruling coalition government, Goa Pradesh Congress committee president Girish Chodankar said, he will boycott the customary tea party hosted by Governor Mridula Sinha on Goa Liberation Day (December 19).
Stating that his decision to boycott the tea party is in his personal capacity, Chodankar said he will appeal to his party leaders to also boycott the function but leave it to their personal wisdom and judgement to take the final call. “I will talk to my leaders. The decision is up to them. I can’t force anyone,” Chodankar said.
There is a tradition that the Governor after the official Liberation Day State function hosts political leaders and prominent citizens to a tea party at the Raj Bhavan.
Chodankar alleged that the Governor is responsible for the political and administrative impasse in the State. Acting biased, she instead of inviting the single largest party (Congress) to form the government allowed the BJP to steal the electoral mandate and form the current politically and constitutionally-immoral government.
"When people of Goa are suffering due to lack of administration how can I have tea with a person who is responsible for this," Chodankar asked.
She (governor) is not acting like a custodian of our Constitution, but like a chief of the BJP's women's wing, Chodankar alleged.
She should have taken suo-motu cognisance of the present political situation and called the cabinet ministers and directed them to appoint a healthy Chief Minister, Chodankar said, adding that the Governor has become a liability, enjoying luxuries at the State exchequer's cost.
“Our party will raise the issue of Goa’s political scenario in the ongoing winter session of Parliament and a petition will be made to the President to sack the Governor,” he said while replying to a question.
Meanwhile, Chodankar expressed sympathy for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the manner in which the "coterie" around him was projecting him through pictures and playing with his heath.
“Picture itself speaks. The way this photo is taken and circulated is a disgraceful act. I feel pity for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who needs rest at this stage,” Chodankar said while commenting on the photo released on Saturday which depicts Parrikar unveiling the plaque of the foundation stone of NIT Goa complex, at his residence.
He also questioned why protocol was violated and media and other dignitaries were not invited.
While commenting on his earlier demand to make CM's health status public, Chodankar said the right to privacy of a citizen does not apply to the Chief Minister. The CM's health status should be known to people, he added.
Criticising TCP minister Vijay Sardesai for holding him responsible for the fish crisis in the state, Chodankar said the minister's charge that the fish ban is due to his (Chodankar's) demand is baseless.
Chodankar also patted the government for appointing upright FDA officer Iva Fernandes, who first broke the news of formalin-laced fish, as in-charge of the checking unit at the wholesale fish market in Margao.
Commenting on the return of BJP organising secretary Satish Dhond, Chodankar said he has good skills in gathering people but will not be able to repair the damage already caused to the BJP party. "The party has gone back 10 years. In the present situation, the party will win only four seats and Satish Dhond may increase party seats by at the most two more," Chodankar said.
On the Rafale deal issue, Chodankar hit out at BJP spokesperson Subhash Faldesai and advised him to first read the Supreme Court's order before making any comments.
