Parrikar defends sacking MGP ministers from Goa Cabinet

Panaji: Backing Laxmikant Parsekar's decision to sack two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party ministers from Goa Cabinet, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said they were ousted for not having trust in the Chief Minister.

"I feel that it is immoral to be in the Cabinet and make statement against the Chief Minister. They were sacked because they had no trust in the Chief Minister," Parrikar told reporters, following the removal of MGP ministers Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavalikar from the state Cabinet.

Sudin recently accused Parsekar of taking the state 10 years backward during his two-and-half year rule.

"The action against the ministers has been taken by the Chief Minister under article 161 (1) of Indian Constitution. We as a party support the decision of the Chief Minister," Parrikar said.

He also said BJP's alliance with MGP in the state is continued and both the ministers were relieved from the Cabinet post as "they had no faith in the Chief Minister".

"The alliance with MGP is continued. What has happened (sacking of Dhavalikar) is a part of government's process, at party-level the alliance is on. The recent developments are hindrance to the alliance but it is not a deadlock," the former state Chief Minister said.

"From our side we have not terminated the proposal of the alliance, they can send the proposal and we will respond appropriately," he said.

Referring to the demand of MGP to replace Parsekar with any other leader to have pre-poll alliance talks, Parrikar said, "If it had not come through media we would have definitely discussed. There are manyissues that need to be settled one-to-one and then go to the media."

"The alliance was formed between the parties (in the past and continues), so there is still window open if they want to make any proposal but not through media," he said.
Asserting that BJP has the strength to fight all alone in

the Assembly polls due next year, Parrikar said, "We feel that alliance will be in the interest of Goa and both of us."

"If they had issues, they should have sorted it out with the Chief Minister. There is no hundred per cent comfort anywhere. If there are doubts they need to sort it out," the senior BJP leader said.

Parrikar said that the statements made by Dhavalikar brothers against the state government were unwarranted, and "if they had any issue with the chief minister, they should not have gone public but discussed with him (CM)".

"He (Sudin) has criticised from the public platform, so it is for the Chief Minister to take action. The kind of statements that they made, the Chief Minister suggestedto the party that they be removed and we agreed to it," he said.

Parrikar also said the party (BJP) was since some time in talks with MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar for alliance.

"The discussions were going on since last three months. I was discussing about alliance with Sudin Dhavalikar. Two-three weeks back, it was in-principle agreed to have pre-poll alliance with MGP," he said.