PANAJI
Even around two years after his demise, the spectre of the deceased Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar continues to haunt state politics.
The Opposition, this time the Goa Forward Party, has once again taunted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led government, invoking Parrikar's promises and strategies to counter rising inflation.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Goa Forward working president Kiran Kandolkar said that Parrikar had introduced the Griha Aadhar scheme and slashed VAT on petrol to counter rising inflation and fuel prices respectively when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was in power at the centre and urged Sawant to follow suit if the latter believed in Parrikar's ideals and principles.
"If Parrikar can do it, without his own government at the Centre, why can't Pramod Sawant do it, when they have their own government at the centre... They say it is a double engine government (Centre and State). They should lower VAT on petrol and diesel immediately," Kandolkar said.
In his pre-poll promise ahead of the 2012 state assembly polls, Parrikar had promised to slash rising petrol rates. After coming to power the BJP-led coalition government slashed VAT imposed on petrol, bringing the price of the fuel to a significant low.
"Petrol, which BJP would say would never go above Rs 60 has now crossed Rs 100. Amid such inflation, Goa Forward demands to bring Parrikar's ideals back to the fore," Kandolkar said.
Kandolkar also said that the allowance provided under the Griha Aadhar scheme, also a Parrikar initiative for homemakers to counter inflation during the UPA regime, should be doubled from the existing Rs 1,500 because household expenses had shot through the roof, including the prices of gas cylinders which has nearly tripled.
"If the BJP believes in Parrikar, then the Rs 1,500 Griha Aadhar allowance should be increased to Rs 3,000 keeping in view the inflation, so that the common women and people can counter rising prices can survive," Kandolkar said.
