Manohar Parrikar visits AAP leader's house, Congress finds it fishy

Panaji, July 12: The Congress in Goa on Tuesday said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to AAP co-convenor Valmiki Naik's house smacked of a "secret alliance" between the ruling BJP and the AAP.

"Parrikar's (Sunday) visit to Naik's house ostensibly to meet his ailing father clearly shows there is a secret deal between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. This has been the case in Delhi too," Congress spokesperson Trajano D'Mello told the media here.

On Sunday, Naik told a press conference that Parrikar visited his house along with a business tycoon to meet his ailing father Datta Naik, who has been associated with BJP leaders in Goa through the 1980s and 90s.

Naik said: "Despite political and ideological differences, I hope Parrikar will continue to visit my family where he would be welcomed in true Goan hospitality."

"I thank Parrikar for his visit and I urge the Modi government to take some lessons from Parrikar and learn to extend similar courtesy to the AAP government in Delhi," Naik added in a sarcastic tone.

What compounded matters was Naik's reluctance to answer questions from the media on why the press conference was addressed, especially if Parrikar's visit was a private one.

Party sources, however, said the media event was organised to ensure that rival parties did not the get an opportunity to use the private visit for political ends.

D'Mello claimed there was more to Parrikar's visit than just "courtesy".

The Goa assembly elections expected to be held in early 2017 are likely to be hotly contested by the ruling BJP, the Congress and the AAP.

AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal formally launched his party's Goa poll campaign in May.

IANS