MARGAO
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar categorically ruled out any “communication gap” between him and his Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D'Souza, particularly over the latter's purported resentment pertaining to not being taken into confidence over matters relating to his (DyCM's) department (portfolio).
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Margao, Parsekar touched upon this issue when asked to respond to the DyCM's grievance about not being taken into confidence over matters relating to postings/transfers of secretaries pertaining to the latter's ministerial portfolios.
“Have I changed the ministerial departments (portfolios)? Only the secretary's work has been changed,” the CM remarked. “Over the past one and a Âhalf year, I realised allotment has been done at random. So similar departments have to go to one secretary. So, similar departments have been clubbed and given to one secretary,” the CM informed.
Stating that he has just changed the departments of the secretaries and not the departments (portfolios) of the Ministers, Parsekar referred to the DyCM's grievance to state as under: “When he said he wanted one secretary, I gave him. I did not say no.” He also ruled out reports appearing in a section of the vernacular media about him going on the defensive on this matter. “Where is the question of being defensive when there was no tugÂ-ofÂ-war?” the CM added.
Stating his intention of clubbing similar departments under one secretary, Parsekar cited examples of such departments such as Social Welfare, Provedoria, Women and Child, etc, to drive home his point of similar departments and their need to be handled by one secretary.
When asked as to whether he categorically states that there is no communication gap between him and the DyCM, Parsekar said, “No (communication gap). Not at all. When he asked me for a secretary, I gave him,” Parsekar claimed, while attributing the slight delay to the three intervening holidays and his “wait for reactions” of his other ministerial colleagues. “There is nothing much in it,” said the CM in conclusion.
