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BJP threatens to pull out of Goa coalition

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Bharatiya Janata Party has threatened to withdraw support to the Wilfred de Souza government in Goa if corruption is not dealt with firmly.

The Rajiv Goa Congress-led coalition, which is in office for less than two months, is being supported by the BJP from outside.

''Willy should not take our unconditional support for granted. If we can bring down (de Souza's predessor) Pratapsing Rane, then we can also pull down the present chief minister,'' warns BJP leader Manohar Parrikar.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the government's indifference to corruption cases, the BJP has set a November-end deadline, after which the party is planning to review its support.

Though the BJP has only four legislators in the 40-member assembly, it has gained importance as it is in power at the Centre.

Capitalising on this, the party had compelled the coalition to order Central Bureau of Investigation probes into corruption cases against former Congress ministers and top bureaucrats.

One such 'scandal', against former power minister Mauvin Godinho, was 'unearthed' by Parrikar himself. But police investigations gained momentum only after the Congress government was toppled. However, the case is yet to be handed over to the CBI.

The BJP also alleges that the chief minister is protecting Economic Development Corporation Managing Director M Modassir. ''Why is the chief minister protecting him?'' asks Parrikar.

He also sees no point in continuing support to the government, which cannot nail down corrupt politicians and officers.

While Dr de Souza has said that pulling down his government would lead to the dissolution of the House, the BJP prefers to wait till the outcome of the November assembly election in four states is known.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister Dayanand Narvekar is still making all possible attempts to go back to the Congress by splitting the Goa Rajiv Congress even as Dr de Souza tries to woo five more Congress MLAs to join the ruling coalition.

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