the goan I network
PANAJI
Amidst the mystery over the physical condition of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, his office said on Friday that he will be meeting some of his Cabinet colleagues, bureaucrats and legislators belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday.
Separately, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, who heads the coalition partner Goa Forward Party, claimed on Friday that Parrikar was well when he met him at his private residence earlier this week after the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India.
Parrikar, who is battling advanced pancreatic cancer has been confined to his private residence ever since he returned from AIIMS in mid-October. His absence from office and public view has evoked intense criticism of mal-administration from the Opposition Congress, civil society and in recent days from his own ministers, including Sardesai himself.
Sardesai on Friday, however, said CM was well and there is no question of replacing him.
Joining Sardesai with complaints of administrative chaos earlier this week was Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte who also hurled allegations against the bureaucracy for hampering movement of files. Khaunte had said that he has stopped going to his chamber in the Secretariat as a protest against the obstructionist attitude of the bureaucracy in the absence of Parrikar.
The other coalition partner, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is already on record demanding that due to Parrikar’s illness, its leader and PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavalikar be appointed to head the government.
The BJP on the other hand has promised corrective measures after December 11 with Vinay Tendulkar saying since Central leadership was busy in elections in Northern States, decisions related to Goa will be taken only after the elections end on December 11.
