the goan I network
PANAJI
The issue of tensions in Goa’s coalition government escalated on Friday with ally MGP demanding the sacking of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude for his alleged verbal abuse of PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and Opposition Congress taking pot-shots at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar advising him to now hire ‘bouncers’ and deploy them at future Cabinet meetings.
The MGP has given Parrikar a four-day deadline to sack Gaude.
“Govind Gaude threatened our leader Sudin Dhavalikar. This is not limited to our party but a threat to democracy. We will decide the future course in our central committee if the Chief Minister does not act against Gaude in the next four days,” MGP working President Narayan Sawant told the media on Friday. Gaude allegedly used ‘unparliamentary expressions’ in his verbal attack hurled at Dhavalikar during the Thursday Cabinet meeting. The unsavoury exchange between the two ministers was widely reported in the local media on Friday.
Gaude, who has a running feud with Dhavalikar’s younger brother Dipak who is also the MGP president over defending his political turf in Priol constituency, accused the PWD minister of entertaining proposals of his brother while ignoring his.
At Friday’s press conference, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said, “We are waiting for decision from CM on the issue. CM has witnessed
the scene.”
Deepak was defeated by Gaude in Priol at the 2017 Assembly elections.
The Congress, meanwhile, has criticised the incident and said that this is an indication of the morass that has set in the Parrikar-led administration.
“The CM should now hire bouncers and deploy them at the next Cabinet meeting,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sunil Kauthankar said while addressing a press conference on the issue.
If an incident of assault occurs in Cabinet meetings, then it will be a matter of shame for Goa, added Kauthankar.
“The Chief Minister should now have bouncers at Cabinet meetings. It has never happened in Goa that ministers abuse each on casteist lines. Law and order is already in shambles, and now ministers are also running amok,” Kauthankar said.
Meanwhile, Gaude declined to either confirm or deny the incident in Thursday’s Cabinet saying whatever happens in Cabinet meetings is classified information and should be kept secret.
He said, it was fool-hardy on the part of the Congress to demand action against ministers on the basis of their conduct in Cabinet meetings.
CABINET MEET:
WHAT HAPPENED
Gaude allegedly used ‘unparliamentary expressions’ in his verbal attack at Dhavalikar during the Thursday Cabinet meeting
Gaude accused Sudin of entertaining proposals of his brother (Deepak) while ignoring his
The unsavoury exchange between the two ministers was widely reported in the local media
MGP’S TAKE
Govind Gaude threatened Sudin Dhavalikar
This is not limited to the party but is a threat to democracy
The future course to be decided in central committee meeting if CM does not act against Gaude in four days
CONG TAKES
POT-SHOTS
CM should hire bouncers & deploy them at next Cabinet meeting
If an incident of assault occurs in Cabinet meetings, then it will be a matter of shame for Goa
It has never happened in Goa that ministers abuse each on casteist lines
