Parrikar acting as proxy CM of Goa: Cong

Launching a scathing attack on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the opposition Congress today said his push for making Goa cashless will spell "doom" for state.

Panaji, Dec 2: Launching a scathing attack on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the opposition Congress today said his push for making Goa cashless will spell "doom" for state.

The party also alleged that Parrikar was acting as a "proxy" Chief Minister and has been given "extra judicial powers" by the Centre to intervene in the state's affairs.

"The defence minister is rushing Goa into another doom in the form of cashless society," Congress spokesman Jitendra Deshprabhu told reporters here.

He said the move is similar to ban on mining industry. Parrikar had recently chaired the meeting in Panaji where a roadmap was chalked out for "cashless Goa".

The Laxmikant Parsekar-led government recently set a deadline to make Goa a cashless society by December 31. Deshprabhu said Goa has become a chief minister-less state where Parrikar is acting as the "appellate authority".

"I feel that the Centre has given him (Parrikar) the extra judicial powers to resolve the problems of Goa and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is just a name," he said, adding that Parrikar is acting like a "proxy chief minister".

Deshprabhu demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, all BJP MPs and ministers across country should declare their assets and cash in hand since demonetisation decision was announced.

PTI