PANAJI
Stating that “only party loyalists are asked to sacrifice for the betterment”, former Minister Nilesh Cabral on Sunday said that he resigned from the cabinet as “requested” by the High Command and the Chief Minister to allow BJP to fulfill their “commitments” made to those defecting MLAs, who had joined the party last year.
Addressing a press conference post resignation, the Curchorem MLA clarified that he would have never resigned had party or anyone “forced” him to do so and that his resignation is following a “request”.
Cabral on Sunday resigned from Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet to make way for the induction of his party colleague and ex-Congress leader Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira.
‘Leaving with a heavy heart’
In his resignation to the Chief Minister, Cabral said, “It is with the heavy heart that I resign from the esteemed position of the Minister of PWD, Environment, Law and Judiciary and Legislative Affairs. I thank you for your continuous support and confidence you have entrusted in me.”
“As requested by you and the senior members of the party due to the commitment you have previously made, I tender my resignation from your cabinet as a Minister,” the letter added.
It further says, “I am immensely grateful for the invaluable opportunities and support provided to me during my tenure in serving the people of this beautiful State.”
Responding to media questions, Cabral said that the party took him into confidence and asked to resign to fulfill the commitment made to one of the eight people, who had joined us.
“If you all remember, when Manohar Parrikar was CM, he was suddenly asked to resign as CM and was elevated as Defence Minister…he did not think about anything and for party and nation, he took the decision…I am not Parrikar…but party can ask us since we are the loyal party workers… they have trust in us that we will stand along with the party in every situation… and hence they make request to only those people who can sacrifice for the party,” the MLA said adding, “I was never treated as a minority leader by the party as there is no distinction like that in the party”.
“I resigned because I was requested…would have never resigned if I was forced to do so…if I am not wrong and you are demanding resignation…why should I …if there were allegations and you are proving it I would have resigned …I was requested by the high command as party is above everything,” he went on to add.
‘Loyalists are always made to sacrifice’
PANAJI: Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said, “Party must have done analysis and saw who are the original BJP workers in the cabinet …party loyalists are always made to sacrifice …my resignation will benefit the party in some way and that is why they told me to resign.”
“Position is not important, ultimately MLA is important as he is elected by the people…people make you MLA…if my people don’t want me to be MLA, they will throw me out in the next election,” he said.
Cabral said that he has made sure that his supporters and well-wishers don’t go against the party and that they will work for the party till the party stands with them and helps in the development.
'Parrikar is my role model, not Sawant’
PANAJI: Three-term MLA from Curchorem Nilesh Cabral said that former CM Manohar Parrikar will be his role model as long as he is in politics.
“Parrikar is my role model… and as long as I am there in the politics he will be my role model…Pramod Sawant cannot be my role model because we have grown together…so role model can be only a senior leader…I have learnt a lot from him…I have taken inspiration from him…Sawant will be role model for junior MLAs,” he said.
Cabral thanked Parrikar for inducting him in the State Cabinet for the first time during his tenure, despite being a MLA for the second term.
