CM rebuffs Sardesai's Ram Sena rant

PORVORIM: Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai on Wednesday criticized chief minister Manohar Parrikar for keeping silent on Shri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik's supposed entry to Goa, and for taking a U-turn on the illegal mining issue.
Parrikar, responding to the charge, said, "I am observing who is with Pramod Muthalik from Goa as some persons from here are inviting him.We want to know who they are. If I ban them, they will hide and blame the government for it," he said.
Speaking on the general budget, the Fatorda MLA, reading from Parrikar's budget speech, said that tourism is a religion in Goa, and added that the chief minister is silent even as the same religion is facing a threat from religious fanatics such as the Shri Ram Sena.
"We have seen chief minister silent on the entry of Pramod Muthalik, and he said that reacting to him is below his dignity. If he was Manohar Parrikar, he could have avoided making a statement on the issue, but he is the chief minister of the state, and he should make a statement on their entry," Sardesai said.
Reacting to the Fatorda MLA, Parrikar said that he should raise this issue during demands and he will reply in details on the issue.
Muthalik, in a recent statement to TOI, said that he will launch his Goa branch by September this year.
Again referring to the budget speech, Sardesai said that the chief minister has said that rural Goa is suffering on account of rampant mining activity, legal as well as illegal. "I reiterate the commitment of my government to forthwith stop all form of illegal mining," Parrikar had said. Sardesai's response: "I cannot understand how three months later, there is no illegal mining in the state."
He also said that the BJP manifesto had promised a cap on iron ore but nothing has been done yet. He also alleged that mining leases have also been transferred by the government illegally.
The Fatorda MLA said that the government which was supposed to come out with a mining policy is yet to come out with it.
He also asked people to be vigilant because anything can change, including Manohar Parrikar, because an idea can change. He added that the government should declare a no development zone of 5km around the Mopa sir strip as there are allegations that politicians have purchased land near the Mopa airport.