BJP hits back on criticism over Defence Minister's frequent visits to Goa

The BJP in Goa today shot back at criticism of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar over his frequent visits to the coastal state and asked mediapersons, “would you not have come home, if you were Defence Minister”.

“If you were made Defence Minister, would you not have come home? Would you have stayed back in Delhi?” BJP Goa unit general secretary Sadanand Tanavade asked the reporters during a press conference here.

He was responding to a question referring to Parrikar’s frequent visits to Goa against the backdrop of militant attacks on Defence bases.

The Goa Congress had recently accused Parrikar of being a “part-time” Defence Minister, and said he was more interested in issues concerning the coastal state than matters related to national security.

“Congress needs to be more focused on its own party rather than Parrikar,” Tanavade told reporters in presence of state BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar.

Tanavade alleged that Congress was adopting publicity gimmicks by resorting to verbal attack on Parrikar to get media publicity.

“If you speak about Defence Minister or Chief Minister, you get quick media publicity. That is what Congress has been aiming at,” he said.

Tanavade said BJP has been monitoring the criticism through social media and found out that only one particular party was indulging in it.

“Majority of the people who respond or comment to this party’s criticism through social media are non-Goans,” he said, refusing to name any political party.