Parrikar to move SC against ads for ministers' image-boosting

Panaji, Aug 7 (UNI) Debunking spending of public money on advertisement blitz for image-building exercise of Goa Law and Health Minister Dayanand Narvekar, BJP Opposition leader and former State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has hinted at filing a petition in the Supreme Court against this trend.

Interacting with mediapersons at the party headquarters here today, Mr Parrikar said the apex court had in its earlier directives clarified against such abuse of exchequer for personal grandiose through advertisements.

''I would have been happy if the Health Minister had released advertisements to promote breast feeding in this international week for the cause. Instead, he did so recently for promoting himself on completiton of his one year of office,'' the opposition leader said.

He also censured the minister for appointing Mr Apsi Chinnoy as Special Senior Government Counsel to defend the interest of the state, in a public interest litigation filed by - Datta Naik - resenting change of public prosecutors on change of Governments.

This is yet another instance of spending huge public money with the Government fixing payment of Rs 1.35 lakhs per appearance in the case.

Another advocate, Mahesh Sonak, was appointed as Special Government Counsel to assist Mr Chinnoy and Nitin Sardessai to represent the Law Minister, Mr Parrikar added.

UNI BM GK PA VV1557