RAVI NAIK'S EXIT WILL BOOST BJP=92S NON-CORRUPT IMAGE: PARRIKAR The exit of Mr Ravi Naik will add credibility to the BJP's clean image and its drive against corruption. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar at a press conference today.
Brushing aside a question whether the departure would harm the party=92s prospects in the coming elections, Mr Parrikar said that the party had known for some time that Mr Naik was not fully with the BJP. He had been delaying the filing of his nomination from Ponda. The party did not want to take the first step and had been waiting for Mr Naik=92s response, he said. Mr Parrikar added that the voters knew very well people like Mr Naik and that such leaders should not be under the impression that they can take the voters for granted. Mr Parrikar said the performance of Mr Ravi Naik could have been much better, considering that he had given the PWD Rs 300 crore for development work. The Chief Minister said that those people who do not feel comfortable with the party=92s stand against corruption, for cleanliness and transparency in public life, are bound to leave. He expressed satisfaction that the BJP had taken such a clear stand against corruption, and added that the people fully endorsed this stand. When asked how he had in the first place accepted such people in the party, Mr Parrikar said he was not fully comfortable with such people in the party, but that he had to take a decision in those circumstances regarding government formation. Mr. Parrikar added that the BJP wished to demonstrate to the people of Goa what good governance was and therefore seized the opportunity that existed at that time. Mr. Parrikar said that despite having no experience in governance the BJP still provided the State with a better and cleaner government than their predecessors. The situation was such that the party had to accept people like Mr Ravi Naik, he said. He disclosed that thrice earlier Mr Naik had approached him to jo in the BJP but that he had fobbed him off. The Chief Minister said that the dissatisfaction over the situation (of having to admit MLAs who were not competent or not fitting the BJP criterion of cleanliness and transparency) was one reason why he went in for dissolution. The BJP has returned to the people for a fresh mandate because of this dissatisfaction, he emphasized. Commenting on the recent exit of other leaders from the BJP, Mr Parrikar remarked that ``birds of the same feather flock together.=92=92 He added th= at the Congress was full of corrupt people. He said the exit of people like Mr Naik and others had brought about a clear polarization as far as voter choice was concerned. The choice is now between a clean, non-corrupt government or a government full of corrupt people, he remarked. Mr Parrikar said that the people had to decide whether they want a clean government such as the one the BJP had provided over the last 18 months or a government that existed in 1999 and before. END Govind Parvatkar General Secretary PLEASE VISIT US www.goabjp.com FOR MORE ARTICLES & COLUMNS. THANK YOU. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
