Goa scene shifts to Delhi for NCP-Cong highcommand level talks

Panaji, Jan 17 (UNI) With talks between the senior leaders of the disputing NCP and the Congress inconclusive late tonight, the scene has shifted to New Delhi to resolve the imbroglio to ensure that the 7-month-old Congress-led coalition government does not fall.

National spokesperson of the NCP and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told newspersons late tonight, after winding up the talks, that he will be initiating discussions with the Congress highcommand, including Mr Ahmed Patel in Delhi, tomorrow.

Informed sources said the Congress leadership was not budging in for a slew of demands put forth particularly by the three NCP legislators who wanted to have a big cake in the government with plum posts.

The Congress leaders from Delhi, who had held dicsussions with Mr Patel and its general secretary Mr Tripathi here, included AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad in presence of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, GPCC president Francisco Sardinha and NCP state president Dr Wilfred D'Souza.

The trouble started yesterday with the NCP leaders, accompanied by another minister and an unattached legislator, resigning from the cabinet and withdrawing support to the government without the approval of the NCP highcommand.

The BJP opposition, however, demanded recall of Governor S C Jamir and dismissal of chief minister for allegedly indulging in manipulatory politics to perpetrate in power despite being in minority for the second time, since Mr Kamat took over reins on June 8 last.

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