http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=032720
Assault on scribe: BJP accuses Deshprabhu of framing Parsekar NT Staff Reporter Panaji March 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party today condemned the Pernem Congress MLA, Mr Jeetendra Deshprabhu for having a hand in implicating the Mandrem MLA, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar in an assault case involving a journalist. Addressing a press conference, today, the state BJP president, Mr Rajendra Arlekar also denounced the Governor for his alleged involvement in the issue. ïMr Deshprabhu sought the help of the Governor, Mr S C Jamir, in directing the police to register a cognisable offence against Mr Parsekar under sections 323 and 506 of the India Penal Code,ï he alleged. The issue in question was triggered off by a news item published in the Konkani daily, Sunaprant, on March 25. The news item quoted one Ms Neela Kerkar alleging that the Mandrem MLA, had cut a Jambhul tree situated on a piece of land (survey number 265/1) at Parsekarwada, Arambol, on March 19. In her complaint, Ms Kerkar stated that the property belonged to one Ms Parvatibai Kerkar, while the Keri sarpanch, Mr Vinay Pingulkar was holding the power of attorney. Mr Parsekar, who was present at the press conference accepted that he had called the journalist to his house but maintained that he did not assault him. ïMr Vatavanekar came to my residence in the afternoon, on March 25, as I wanted to see if he had any documents to substitute the press report.ï ïI told Mr Vatavanekar not to unnecessarily mention my name in the future reports, without any concrete proof,ï Mr Parsekar said, adding that the journalist then left his residence. ïLater in the evening, I came to know from the national news channel reports that I was being implicated in an incident which involved the beating up of the particular journalist. He was my student. How could I even think of manhandling him?ï Mr Parsekar said. The Mandrem MLA said that Mr Deshprabhu had created a controversy for political reasons. ïAfter the delimitation of the assembly constituencies, Pernem constituency would become a reserved constituency and hence Mr Deshprabhu is interested in shifting to the neighbouring Mandrem constituency by bypassing Mr Ramakant Khalap as well as the other aspirant, Ms Sangeeta Parab,ï Mr Parsekar observed. ïOne one hand, Mr Deshprabhu invited the electronic media to the Pernem police station, yesterday evening, while on the other, he used his Raj Bhavan contacts to register a complaint against me,ï he alleged. Mr Parsekar also spoke about the possible threat to the life of Mr Vatavanekar from Mr Deshprabhu, alleging, ïin such a case, the Pernem MLA would link me to the harm caused to the journalist.ï Politics in the state has touched a very low level and the media is being used by some politicians for cheap political gains, Mr Parsekar stated. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has criticised Mr Parsekar for assaulting a member of the fourth estate. It said that the BJP leaders have gone berserk after being out of power. The NCP general secretary, Mr Surendra Furtado said that the attack on Sunaprant journalist, Mr Laxman Vatavanekar added yet another feather to the BJPïs cap with regard to attacks on journalists, echoing its principle of intolerance. Mr Furtado said a feeling of insecurity has gripped the BJP top brass and that is the reason why they are now thinking of launching their own newspaper, with the aim of countering adverse reports, which will surface once the misdeeds of the BJP are out in the open. Senior Congress leader, Mr Shantaram Naik came down heavily on Mr Parsekar saying that with this action he has lost all moral authority to continue as a representative of the people. Mr Naik said that Mr Parsekar must also be prosecuted under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 for conspiring to fell a tree without permission. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England