'Congmen grooming kin for political leadership'

MARGAO: North Goa BJP MP Shripad Naik alleged on Sunday that efforts were on by some Congress leaders in Goa to establish their "dynasties" in their strongholds by promoting and grooming their kin to assume the mantle of political leadership.
Speaking at a public meeting organized by the BJP Fatorda block, as a part of the saffron party`s programme to highlight the "ills of misgovernance by the Congress", Naik named speaker Pratapsing Rane, PWD minister Churchill Alemao and transport minister Sudin Dhavalikar as the ones trying to establish small sovereign states within Goa.
Linking this issue to accession of princely Indian states to the Indian Union, Naik held Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru solely responsible for the "unresolved Kashmir issue".
"Sardar Vallabhai Patel had successfully effected accession of hundreds of sansthans (sovereign states) to the Indian Union at the time of India`s independence. However, it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who committed a grave mistake by conferring special constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir, the consequences of which we are facing even now. Nehru is solely responsible for the problems faced by India with regards to Kashmir. And here in Goa, there are moves to create such sansthans (sovereign states) in Goa. We have the Ranes, the Churchill brothers and Sudin Dhavalikar who are trying to establish their political dynasties," Naik said.
He also lambasted the UPA government for failing to live up to its promise of lowering prices of essential commodities within 100 days of assuming power.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar accused almost all ministers in the Congress led government in the state of indulging in rampant corruption, even as he rattled out their names explaining how each of them have drained the public exchequer by misusing their plum portfolios. He exhorted the public to "show the Congress-led government its place by kicking it out." "Boot out the Congress in the approaching municipal elections. Let`s begin the process from here," Parrikar said.