Manohar Parrikar defends Goa CM for sacking MGP ministers from 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 many issues 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.