the goan I network
PANAJI
Hours after the Congress stepped up the pressure on the State administration and hit the streets alleging fish samples from Margao market tested positive for ‘formalin’ on Saturday, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane quickly responded and rubbished the claim as “drama for politics”.
Five Congress MLAs, party president Girish Chodankar and AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa, Chella Kumar with a band of party workers hit the ground in Margao and raked up the ‘formalin in fish’ controversy again.
The Congress team claimed that fish bought from the Margao retail market was ‘found’ to have formalin.
But, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane slammed the Opposition party terming their action as “irresponsible” and a drama for political gains.
Chodankar and Chella Kumar claimed in Margao that formalin was found in fish bought from the Margao market.
But Health Minister Vishwajit Rane who hurriedly call a press conference in Panaji on Saturday afternoon, slammed the Congress and Chodankar for the “political stunt” which he said, was devoid of any truth and solely aimed at covering up its failure to conjure the numbers in their bid to grab power over the last few days.
“I want the people of Goa not to fall for Chodankar’s theatrics. The issue (formalin in fish) is serious. The FDA is continuously conducting random tests on samples picked up from markets in Margao, Panaji, Vasco, Mapusa and elsewhere. Fish sold in Goa’s markets is safe,” Rane said at the press conference he addressed in the presence of FDA Director Jyoti Sardessai.
Rane also threw a challenge to Chodankar and the Congress for a debate on the ‘formalin in fish’ issue.
“I challenge Chodankar and all the Congress’ ex-CMs put together to a debate on the matter. Let him fixed the time and venue. Let’s debate it objectively,” Rane said.
He however declined to take names of the ex-CMs among whom is also included his own father Pratapsing Rane.
Rane Jr said the Congress failed to get the numbers in its bid to grab power and is therefore irresponsibly attempting to cover up its failure by raking up the ‘formalin’ controversy again.
The health minister under whose administrative charge the FDA operates, also invited Chodankar to join the government’s effort to check fish adulteration with formalin.
“Let him (Chodankar) pick a day of his choice. We will jointly go to anywhere he wants with an FDA team and we’ll get fish samples from the markets tested,” Rane said, throwing a gauntlet at the Opposition.
Rane said, the Congress with such irresponsible actions was only creating panic among the public without merit, which will only hurt the livelihoods of the fish mongers and also damage the tourism industry.
“They should instead work as a responsible Opposition and raise genuine issues that affect the common man. They have failed as an Opposition.” Rane said.
