SIRSAT TALKS TOUGH ON CONGRESS LEADERS BLURT OUT

PANJIM: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Goa on Friday took strong cognisance of a statement by a Congress leader that Sharad Pawar-led party was colluding with BJP to destabilise Congress-led government in the state.

"Congress should ask its leaders to mind their words while making statements," NCP Goa Unit President Surendra Sirsat told a news agency reacting to the statement by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Vijay Sardesai.

Sardesai, in his statement, had said that NCP was in collusion with BJP to disturb the Congress government in Goa. The statement was in the wake of NCP’s recent move asking its two ministers to quit the cabinet and induct Fransisco Mickey Pacheco in the cabinet.

"I don't think what Sardesai said is the opinion of the party. It is his personal opinion. But he should restrict himself from making his opinions public," Sirsat said.

Two NCP ministers had hit the controversy after they held a meeting with Congress legislators at Sardesai’s residence, last week. The Congress leader is a South Goa based politician.

Sirsat said that he will be formally communicating to Congress party about the reported statement of Sardesai. The Congress party, on the other hand, has maintained silence over the statement.  "I need to go through the statement and read what he said. I will be able to comment on the issue later," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhash Shirodkar said.

A group of 10 congress legislators have rebelled in the state opposing induction of Pacheco in the cabinet.  Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao led group had said that they will topple the government, if any of the minister is dropped. – PTI