If you want news, we will give you: Parrikar to media

About party's recent split with alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Parrikar said BJP knew how to respect the alliance dharma'.

Panaji, Dec 20: Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said here if the media wanted news desperately, BJP can give it news. "I read some news reports related to the Deputy Chief Minister in one of the newspapers. Some weird news was carried. If journalists want news, we will give them," Parrikar said, addressing a rally here.

Referring to negative coverage orchestrated by political opponents' after the then Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho joined BJP, Parrikar said, "It was not a new fact that Godinho joined BJP. It was a known fact, for four and a half years Godinho is with us. Similarly (Congress legislator Pandurang) Madkaikar has been expressing his wish to join BJP for last six months."

About party's recent split with alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Parrikar said BJP knew how to respect the alliance dharma'. "Despite having 21 legislators, we gave two ministerial berths (to MGP), one to an independent MLA....But that does not mean we should take alliance partner in confidence while deciding our Chief Minister. That is the decision of the party," he said.

"You cannot be in the government and criticise it. I always say if you tell me something politely I am ready to sweep your house, but if someone shows arrogance then I will kick his butt," Parrikar said. The former Goa Chief Minister said the only promise given to voters here that he could not keep was to shift to Panaji (from neighbouring Mapusa). "I wanted to buy a flat in Panaji but it was not affordable for me....I had to buy it on the outskirts," he said.

PTI