the goan I network
MAPUSA
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo preferred to attend a school function in Quepem rather than join a meeting arranged between BJP legislators and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday.
Two other MLAs from Bardez “ former minister and Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza and Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo “ were also absent fron the meeting.
“I was a chief guest at a function in St Joseph’s High School, Quepem. We were informed about the meeting late Friday evening, so I could not change the programme at the last minute,” Lobo said, adding that since the school programme was at 3 pm and the meeting with the CM was scheduled at 3.30 pm, he could not attend the meeting.
“The meeting was at 3.30 pm and the inaugural function was starting at 3 pm in Quepem. So I had to be there,” he said.
Lobo, however, said he had sent a message to the Speaker Pramod Sawant that he wouldn’t attend the meeting because of the function.
Meanwhile, GSIDC Chairman and Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo said he was out of station and therefore could not make it for the meeting.
“I could not attend the meeting called by the chief minister on Saturday as I am not in the State. But I met the CM a couple of days ago,” Ticlo told The Goan.
Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza was not available for comment. But sources close to the former minister said that he could not attend the meeting because of his ill health.
D’Souza has been sulking from the time he was demoted while he was undergoing medical treatment in the USA.
