the goan I network
MAPUSA
Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo visited Mapusa MLA Francisco D’Souza at his Mapusa residence on Friday evening and was holed up with him for more than a hour.
Besides Lobo, Mapusa BJP mandal chief Damu Lanjekar, former Fatroda MLA Damu Naik and Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Ryan Braganza along with the ruling councillors met the former deputy chief minister for the first time after he returned from his treatment in the USA.
The Calangute MLA said there was no politics in his visit to D’Souza but just a courtesy call since the Mapusa MLA had just returned home after almost two and a half month streatment in the USA.
“I met Babush. He appeared upset and dejected. He said, “Parrikar ditched me”,” Lobo told The Goan.
“I only told him not to worry about politics but to focus on health and get well first,” he added. He said Babush needed time to recover and get fully fit.
Braganza along with the 15 councillors also met D’Souza for almost half-hour
at noon.
The meeting was ostensibly to meet and inquire about his health since he was away for treatment for almost two-and-half months.
“We have discussed on matters of municipal administration, issues of market, coordination etc. There was no discussion on State politics,” said Sandip Falari, former chairperson and senior councillor, who is closest to the MLA.
He said D’Souza seemed to be in no hurry and after interacting with the councilors for half an hour has expressed his wish to meet again the next week.
Falari said that he was not totally recovered but looked much better than before, when he left for treatment to US.
Mapusa BJP Mandal President Damu Lanjekar and former Fatorda MLA and BJP spokesman Damu Naik also separately met D’Souza
at his residence.
‘Parrikar must talk to his conscience on delegating charge’
MAPUSA: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would have to “ask his conscience” whether the charge of the government can be given to a senior cabinet minister to run the day to day affairs of the State.
“The chief minister has to ask his own self. He has to ask his conscience whether he should give charge or not and if he cannot handle it, then he should give charge (to someone) and still remain as the CM,” Lobo said.
He said that there was near unanimity in the party and even the people felt that for smooth functioning of the government and good governance, a responsible person should be there who can take a call on day to day developments.
“CM takes decision from his home. His OSDs and personal secretaries give him constant feedback about the developments in the State and the CM gives direction from there. But we don’t have a CM who can sit in the secretariat. Only Manohar Parrikar will have to take the decision whether he has to give the charge or not,” he said.
When queried on the recent photograph of Parrikar released by the CMO’s office and whether the CM could speak, the deputy speaker said that he has not met the chief minister for the last 15 days and wouldn’t know whether he was in a position to speak.
“I have not met him off late. If I meet him I will definitely tell you. I am supposed to meet him,” Lobo said.
