Alleging that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pressurised Union Home Ministry officials to pass the citizenship order in favour of former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, former PWD minister Churchill Alemao on Thursday said that he has in his possession new documents which will be enough to nail Caitu in the Portuguese citizenship case.
MARGAO
Addressing the media, Churchill claimed that the Union Defence Minister had even gone to the extent of removing a Union Home Ministry official and replacing him with a pliable officer. Churchill also said though the BJP has saved Caitu during the last five years, the people of Benaulim will decide his fate when the EVMs are opened for counting on March 11. “I have information that an MHA officer was removed and replaced after he failed to toe Parrikar’s line. Though the Central government has saved Caitu, I have fresh documents which will prove that Caitu is a Portuguese citizen,” Churchill added.
Pooh poohing Caitu’s claim that he (Churchill) had put 27,000 Goans who had obtained Portuguese citizens in trouble, Churchill said he was one politician who had helped thousands of Goans to obtain Portuguese citizenship to secure jobs abroad.