the goan I network
MAPUSA
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday asked Urban Development Minister Francisco D’Souza to hold his horses, as he was dealing with the matter on the spat between him and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
“I met Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the secretariat at around 4.30 pm today. He said he is dealing with the matter. He also requested me not to aggravate the matter further by making more statements,” D’Souza told The Goan.
The Mapusa MLA said that it was he who raised the issue with the CM asking why he (Francis D’Souza) was called for a meeting on Wednesday as the problem was not his creation.
“I asked him why I was called on Wednesday. What is my problem, my problem was never there. I just replied to whatever was being said (against me),” he told The Goan.
Interestingly, D’Souza said that the issue had nothing to do with the government and it was purely a party matter.
“You see, it has nothing to do with the government. It’s a party matter,” the Mapusa MLA said.
D’Souza informed that the chief minister had called up on Monday and accordingly they had decided to meet on Tuesday.
He said the CM also spoke on several other issues pertaining to his urban development ministry.
“We discussed several other issues such as the strike notice of the municipal employees union, bus stand issue and recruitment of staff for the Mapusa Municipal Council for which permission is not given,” he said.
Earlier it was said that the chief minister would meet both the Mapusa and Calangtue MLAs on Wednesday in the party office.
“I don’t know about tomorrow (Wednesday). So far no one has said we will not meet,” D’Souza said.
Incidentally, sources informed that the chief minister also met Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo and had a tete-a-tete with him.
Attempts to contact Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo were unsuccessful as he refused to take calls.
It may be recalled, last week, Michael Lobo had thrashed the development model of Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza.
He had said D’Souza was a good man but had failed to carry out any development in the city for the last 25 years.
D’Souza hit back questioning what miracles had Michael Lobo worked in Calangute and alleged that the coastal village was synonymous with drugs and prostitution.
