the goan I network
MAPUSA
Maintaining that there was no question of leadership change in the BJP in Goa, Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) member and Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza on Saturday said that discussing change in leadership when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was away for treatment was not the right thing to do.
“It’s in bad taste and uncalled for... No one should discuss on leadership change when the CM is taking treatment. Let’s wait for two more months. He will be back by then,” D’Souza said.
The Mapusa MLA was responding to media queries whether a leadership change was in the offing in the State BJP unit due to the CM’s ill-health.
D’Souza said Nitin Gadkari had already cleared the air over leadership in Goa and that there was no question of change in the party hierarchy.
He said only one newspaper in Goa was debating on change in leadership, clearly hinting at The Goan and Goan Varta, which in the last three days ran exclusive reports on developments within BJP on the leadership options in Goa.
On the CM’s condition, the urban development minister said Parrikar was recuperating and appealed to the people of Goa and the media to have some patience. “He’s responding to treatment…His digestive system is working and he’s recovering, which is all good news,” he said.
“CM said he will be back in 6-8 weeks. I am sure he will be back by then. Till then we should have patience. There is no hurry. The sentiment is that we have to be with the CM in his ill health,” he added.
The Mapusa MLA, who was not keeping too well not very long ago and had also travelled abroad apparently for treatment, felt that people should not debate on someone’s ill-health.
“We should not talk too much about the health of a person. I had fallen sick. I am still recovering. I am not 100 percent fit. May be, I am 90 percent fit. I will take some time to be 100 percent. So, you do not have to debate on the issue,” he said.
