PAWAR SAYS THE SENTENCE ON MICKKY BLOCKS HIS INDUCTION INTO THE CABINET

PANJIM: The Nationalist Congress Party president and the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, has said that inclusion of NCP legislator from Benaulim, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco, in the state cabinet would not be possible unless he got the sentence against him overturned from a higher court.

Addressing reporters after a meeting of the executive committee of the state unit of the NCP, Mr Pawar said that in view of the situation arising out of conviction of Mr Pacheco in a criminal case, the two NCP ministers (Mr Jose Philip D’Souza and Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar) in the cabinet would continue to hold their posts.

On the demand of the state NCP for action against Mr Pacheco for his outburst against the state unit party leaders and his threat to float a new party and file candidates in all the 40 constituencies, he said that perhaps Mr Pacheco was being misled by some forces to make such statements and that he would not like to react on the issue.

The Union Agriculture Minister also said that his party would adopt an aggressive stand against illegal mining in Goa and would expect the state government to take stringent action against those involved in illegal mining.

Mr Pawar told reporters that the issue of illegal mining was discussed at the meeting and that he was of opinion that illegal mining would destroy Goa, its culture and environment and as such steps had to be taken to prevent degradation of the state, its culture and environment.

Responding to a query on the involvement of some of the NCP leaders in illegal mining, Mr Pawar said that action would have to be taken against all those involved in illegal mining and none (including those of NCP if found carrying out illegalities) should be spared.  “We will not compromise on the issue of action against illegal mining,” he said.

The Union Agriculture Minister said that the party and the people of the state could derive benefit from the positions of two NCP leaders (including himself and the Union Industries Minister, Mr Praful Patel) and take benefit of various central government schemes.

He further said that he would be happy to support all the proposals/projects routed through the state government for the benefit of fishermen, horticulture and even permissible industries in Goa. “We will be happy to help Goa and Goans,” he added.

Dealing on the issue of medium of instruction, Mr Pawar said that the issue was discussed at the meeting and added that since the issue was already being debated at the central level, his party would not obstruct the process by expressing its view.

He also said that the country had adopted three language formula (mother tongue, national language and any other language preferred by the people of the state) and that he had been told that a large number of poor children were eager to study in English medium primary schools and as such the government should consider their demand and allow them to learn in English.

He also said that he had formed a core group to re-organise and strengthen the party and that the group would visit the blocks in the state and study ground level situation and on receipt of the report, booth level committees would be set up. He also said that the process of re-organisation would be completed in two and half months following which a state-level convention would be held.