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Hello Jammu News at 3:52:00 PM 0


Panaji, Mar 24 :  Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the state will have a 100 per cent lockdown from Tuesday midnight till March 31 in view of the coronavirus crisis.

Collectors of both North Goa and South Goa districts will issue curfew orders in the state till March 31, he said.

Sawant said there is not a single coronavirus case in the state, but that does not mean fear of infection is not there.

"Coronavirus infection has not been reported as it may not have been transmitted to any person. That is why we need to take utmost precaution. I request everyone to stay indoors and abide by the instructions of the government, he said.

Sawant said from Tuesday midnight, there would be total lockdown in the state with the exception of essential services like pharmacies and hospitals.

Police have been given powers under the Epidemic Act to take stringent action against the violators, he said.

There are a few pharmaceutical companies which are allowed to function are banned from allowing employees from Maharashtra and Karnataka to work.

The state has shut down all transport facilities, but nationalised banks with ATMs are permitted to function.

Separate transport arrangements have been made for staff of various hospitals to ferry them to their workplace.

"The staff of electricity and water departments will be on duty," Sawant said.

"Everyone should support the hundred per cent lockdown. If we abide by it till March 31, we will be safe, the chief minister said.

"In case any information has to be given about COVID-19, the Chief Minister's Office is working 24*7. We have formed a team of 12 people. All the things would be monitored, he added.

Around 500 people have been home quarantined in the state, Sawant said, adding that if anyone of them is found moving out, then he/she will be kept in government-run facilities.

About essential commodities, he said the collection centres of Goa Dairy will be open.

The government is thinking about supply of essential commodities. In next two days, the plan would be worked out how to supply essential commodities, he said.

As far as the homeless are concerned, they will be kept in shelter homes under the disaster management scheme, he said.

The state is allowingvehicles with cattle feed, medicines and essential services through its borders.
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Hello Jammu News at 4:59:00 PM 0


Panaji, Aug 5   :   Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik on Monday described the Centre's move on Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, as a "historic and bold decision".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha, moved a resolution that all clauses of Article 370 will not be applicable to the northern state.

Reacting to the government's move, Naik, who is the Lok Sabha member from North Goa, in a tweet said, "Historic and bold decision by Union Home Minister @AmitShah moves resolution #RajyaSabha to revoke #Article370...#BharatEkHai." 

The government on Monday moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories (UTs) -- Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh.

Making the announcement in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said the Union Territory of Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh while the other UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.                                                    [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 7:28:00 PM 0



Panaji, Jun 14 :  Petrol and diesel prices will increase in Goa from midnight as the state government has hiked value-added tax (VAT) on them.

In a notification issued Friday by under-secretary (finance) Sushma Karat, the state government announced VAT on petrol is now 20 per cent instead of 15 per cent, while that on diesel has been hiked from 15 per cent to 18 per cent.

Price of petrol and diesel will increase by Rs 2.70 and Rs 1.43 per litre respectively from Saturday, said Paresh Joshi, president of All Goa Petrol Dealers Association.

"As on Friday, cost of petrol in Goa was Rs 63.74 per litre while that of diesel was Rs 63.04," he informed.                                                                                [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 7:13:00 PM 0



Panaji, Jun 14 :  Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Friday said he met Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' and held discussions on the upcoming IIT and NIT projects in the state, besides Goa University.

He said he had invited the Union Human Resources Development minister to inaugurate a government college campus at Pernem.

Sawant also tweeted about his meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah against the backdrop of the NITI ( National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog meet in New Delhi.

"Called on Shri @AmitShah ji, Union Home Minister and BJP National President in New Delhi today" Sawant tweeted.

Sawant is scheduled to return to Goa on June 16                       [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 3:59:00 PM 0



Panaji, Mar 24 :   Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday met family members of former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at their private residence near here.

Parrikar died here on March 17 after battling illness for about an year.

Arriving in Goa on a day-long visit, Naidu went directly to the Parrikar family's residence at Dona Paula.

"Today, I met the family members of Late Shri Manohar Parrikar in #Goa and conveyed my heartfelt condolences. I had a long association of more than 30 years with him," the vice president tweeted later.

"He was one of the finest politicians of modern times," Naidu said, describing the late BJP leader as someone who "walked the talk of simplicity" and who was "the epitome of integrity".                                                                                                [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 5:35:00 PM 0
Image result for maharashtrawadi gomantak party logo
Panaji, Mar 23 :  The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Saturday expelled its general secretary Lavoo Mamlatdar after he declared, in a letter to Speaker, that he was the sole authority to communicate on behalf of his party.


He was being expelled for six years for "anti-party activities", said the MGP, an ally of the ruling BJP in Goa.

He was MGP's MLA from Ponda from 2012 to 2017 before being defeated in the last election by Congress' Ravi Naik.

MGP chief Dipak Dhavalikar said the decision to expel Mamlatdar was taken by the party's Central Committee after it came to light that he had written a letter to the Assembly Speaker without taking the party into confidence.

The letter, sent Friday, informed that "official communication from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party will be addressed only by the undersigned General Secretary (Mamlatdar), duly authorised of and by the party".

"You are... requested to ignore any communication received from any other person...," it said.

Dhavalikar said the central committee, which met Saturday, tried to persuade Mamlatdar to withdraw it.

"Since Mamlatdar was adamant on his stand despite committee members trying to persuade him for two hours, it was resolved to expel him for six years for anti-party activities and indiscipline," the MGP president said.

The decision would be vetted during the general body meeting of the party on March 30, he said.

When contacted, Mamlatdar claimed that he wrote to the Speaker because some leaders in the party had planned to drop party MLA and tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar from the state cabinet and replace him with Dipak Pawaskar.

The plan was to remove Ajgaonkar by writing to the Speaker by keeping the central committee in dark, he alleged.

"I was expelled because I sabotaged their plan," he said, adding that he would move a court against the decision to expel him.

Dhavalikar said there was no such plan to replace Ajgaonkar.                        [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 6:06:00 PM 0


Panaji, Feb 24 :  The condition of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is stable and he is under observation of doctors at a hospital here, an official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said on Sunday.

The 63-year-old senior BJP leader, suffering from a pancreatic ailment since the last one year and recuperating at his private residence at Dona Paula near here, was admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) late Saturday night.

Parrikar, who met State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai in the evening to discuss politics and administration, was shifted to GMCH, almost four km from his residence, around 10 pm.

"The chief minister was under observation during the night. He is stable. Doctors will decide when he will be discharged from GMCH," the CMO official said.

The CMO in a statement released here on Saturday said Parrikar was taken to GMCH for upper GI endoscopy (gastrointestinal examination).

"His health condition continues to be stable," it said, adding he would be kept under observation for around 48 hours.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had gone to GMCH late Saturday night to enquire about Parrikar's health condition.

He later said the chief minister was kept in an isolated ward and that his condition was stable and he was doing well.

Parrikar had fallen ill on February 14, 2018 and was shifted to GMCH, from where he was taken to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai the next day.

The chief minister returned to Goa on February 20, 2018 to present the state budget. He left for the US for treatment on March 3, 2018 and returned on June 14, 2018.

He then attended monsoon session of the Assembly from July 19 to August 3, and left for the US again on August 10 for a second round of check-up.

He returned to Goa on August 22, 2018 and was later shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at New Delhi on September 15. After almost a month-long treatment, he returned to Goa on October 14, 2018.

Parrikar stunned everyone when he resumed his office on January 2, 2019 after a gap of two-and-a-half months.

On January 27, he attended the inauguration of third bridge on the Mandovi river here along with Union minister Nitin Gadkari. He also attended the Budget session on January 29 and presented the state budget next day.

On the last day of the session on January 31, he was taken for treatment to AIIMS in Delhi and he returned to Goa on February 5.

Parrikar also addressed Atal Booth Karyakarta Sammelan on February 9 in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah.                      [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 2:56:00 PM 0


Panaji, Feb 23 :  Four Russian nationals have been arrested for alleged possession of drugs in North Goa's Mandrem village, police said Saturday.

One of the arrested persons has also confessed during interrogation that he has been involved in thefts at ATMs in the state, a senior official said.

Acting on a tip-off, a Pernem police team Friday raided the house of one Ilia Alexsandrovich Shtennikov (30), a Russian national, who was found cultivating cannabis in a rented apartment, said Superintendent of Police (North) Chandan Chaudhury.

Shtennikov told police during questioning that an apartment in Mandrem area, in Pernem taluka, was being used as a base for peddling drugs by a group of Russians, she said.

A raid on this house led to the arrest of Radik Vafin (35) and MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) and ganja (cannabis), worth Rs 2.09 lakh, was found, the official said.

Vafin has said during interrogation that he had used gas-cutters and explosive substances to break open ATMs in the state to steal cash, Chaudhury said.

Ecstasy tablets, MDMA and ganja worth Rs 2.38 lakh was found from another Russian national identified as Evgenii Zakharin (38), the SP said.

The fourth accused, Igor Markov (32), was found with drugs worth Rs 7 lakh.

All four have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and further probe was underway to find out more about the network the accused were operating, the SP informed.                [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 12:50:00 PM 0


Panaji, Jan 1 : Thousands of people rang in the New Year at beaches in Goa as year 2018 faded into night and celebrations continued till early morning of Tuesday.

At the stroke of 12 midnight on December 31, the Goa shoreline illuminated with fireworks with several thousand people in attendance, most of them tourists.

The famous beach destination is known for New Year revelry and night-long parties that typically begin on December 30 night and continue till New Year Day.

The coastal state has been witnessing a huge inflow of tourists after Christmas.

On December 31 night, the roads leading to beaches were chock-a-block with people.

A large number of police personnel were deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic and to prevent any untoward incident.

Goa DGP Muktesh Chandar had issued special orders asking all the police stations to carry out stringent checks against drunk driving.

While revellers broke into jig and cries of "Happy New Year" filled the air, local Christians were seen attending midnight prayers in churches to welcome the New Year.

Meanwhile, state Governor Mridula Sinha has greeted people on the occasion of New Year.

"As we are stepping into yet another year of our lives, we welcome the New Year with great hopes and new expectations. The whole world solemnises New Year with great enthusiasm and energy," she stated in a message Tuesday.

"New Year eve is a joyous occasion, when we refresh our thoughts and prepare for new achievements. More importantly, it is an occasion for us to renew our commitment to live together in harmony and unity," she stated.

The governor also appealed people to take a vow to show respect to each other and to develop greater understanding in the interest of social solidarity.      PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 11:55:00 AM 0

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday wished ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on his 63rd birthday and prayed for his good health. Modi took to Twitter to wish Parrikar and appreciated the chief minister's "hardworking nature" and commitment towards development of the coastal state.


Panaji, Dec 13 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday wished ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on his 63rd birthday and prayed for his good health.

Modi took to Twitter to wish Parrikar and appreciated the chief minister's "hardworking nature" and commitment towards development of the coastal state.

"Birthday greetings to my friend and Goa's CM @manoharparrikarji. Parrikarji is known for his compassionate, down to earth and hardworking nature. He is extremely passionate about Goa's development," the PM tweeted.

"The entire nation prays for Parrikarji's good health," he added.

Parrikar's family members, BJP workers and his well-wishers held a special prayer at the Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji in the morning to pray for his health and speedy recovery.

His elder son Utpal Parrikar, along with state BJP spokesperson and former Panaji MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar, led the prayers at the temple.

Parrikar, who is currently recuperating at his private residence near the state capital, will not celebrate his birthday in public, but the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to organise various events to mark the occasion.

This is the first time since 1994 that Parrikar is not celebrating his birthday in public after becoming an MLA over two decades ago, Kunkolienkar had said Wednesday.

"Even when he was the Defence minister, he used to fly to the state to celebrate his birthday," said Kunkolienkar, who had resigned from the Panaji Assembly constituency to make way for Parrikar to get elected in 2017.

The BJP's Panaji unit has organised a blood donation camp at party headquarters, which has been a practice since 2006, on the occasion.

Parrikar has been recuperating at his private residence at Dona Paula near here since October 14 when he was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).


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Hello Jammu News at 4:38:00 PM 0


Panaji, Oct 15 (PTI) An old web site of BJP's Goa unit was hacked Monday by unknown persons, who posted the message 'Pakistan Zindabad' on it, a party functionary said.

The identity of the group which possibly carried out the cyber attack "Team PCE" and an individual's name "Mohammad Bilal" were also posted on the web page, after it was hacked.

The hacker, after defacing the web site, left the message "mailto:catch.if.you.can@hotmail.com".

A BJP functionary attached to the party's IT cell said the web site in question was an old one. He added that the new web site has anti-hacking security measures in place.

He said the BJP had integrated its state units with the new web site, which remained unharmed in the cyber attack.

BJP Goa general secretary Sadanand Tanavade refused to divulge details in connection with the cyber attack.

The party has not filed a police complain as yet, functionaries said.

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Hello Jammu News at 11:48:00 AM 0


Panaji, Oct 11 (PTI) Bollywood actor Prateik Babbar has refused to give his blood sample for analysis after he was booked by the Goa Police for rash driving, a police official said Thursday.

The police wanted his blood sample to check whether the actor, who is in his early 30s, was driving under the influence of alcohol, the official said.

Babbar's car allegedly dashed a scooter on the Panaji- Mapusa highway Wednesday evening following which a case of rash driving was registered against him.

"When Babbar was taken for medical examination at the state-run Asilo Hospital in Mapusa town, he refused to give his blood sample," Porvorim police station inspector Paresh Naik told PTI.

A case under the Motor Vehicles Act was registered, while a probe was on to check whether Babbar could also be booked under IPC sections as the scooter rider alleged that the actor threatened him after the mishap, he said.

Babbar has been called Thursday at the Porvorim police station for questioning, Naik added.

The complainant, Paulo Correa, 21, had Wednesday alleged that a car driven by Babbar dashed against his scooter when he was riding with his sister.

After the mishap there was an altercation and Babbar used filthy language against them, he alleged.

Babbar, on his part, filed a complaint against Correa, alleging that Correa smashed his car's window-shield, the police official said, adding that they have seized the car.

Prateik Babbar, the son of actors Raj Babbar and late Smita Patil, has worked in films like "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", "Dhobi Ghat", "Dum Maro Dum" and "My Friend Pinto".

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Hello Jammu News at 1:02:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 27: Ailing Goa BJP legislator Francis D'Souza, who was recently dropped from the Manohar Parrikar- led Cabinet, said Thursday he would resign from the state party's core committee once he returns from the US.

Dismissing rumours of resigning from the post of MLA as a mark of protest, D'Souza, who is admitted at a hospital in the US for an undisclosed ailment, said this is his fight for "self-respect".

Parrikar, who is admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi because of a pancreatic ailment, had Monday dropped BJP ministers D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar from his Cabinet.

BJP MLAs Milind Naik and Nilesh Cabral were inducted in their places.

D'Souza, who headed the Urban Development Department, was unhappy over his removal from the state Cabinet, and had asked if this was the reward given to him by the party for his 20-year-long loyalty.

"I will resign from the Goa BJP unit's core committee once I am back on October 15. I don't want anything from the party in future. Even if offered, I will not take up any government position," D'Souza told over the phone.

The core committee is the BJP's key decision-making body in Goa, comprising senior leaders like Parrikar, Union minister Shripad Naik and party state chief Vinay Tendulkar, among others.

"I am fighting for my self-respect. If you can't respect that, then I don't want anything from you. It's all over," said D'Souza, who got elected on the BJP ticket from Mapusa constituency in North Goa district for the past two decades.

Asserting that he would not quit as an MLA, he said, "I have been elected by my voters for five years, so there is no question of resigning as legislator. If I resign, I would be disrespecting my voters."

He said it was the chief minister's right to keep or drop him from the Cabinet.

"Nobody can interfere in the chief minister's right. There is no role of the party high command in my dismissal from the cabinet," he said.

However, criticising Parrikar's style of functioning, he said the chief minister does not take advice from anyone, including the party high command.

D'Souza alleged that "few leaders" in the BJP were trying to get him removed from the party since 2012.

"May be they felt that I overstayed in their party. Usually, any guest should not overstay. I have been there for too long in the BJP," he said.

Claiming that he had joined the BJP on Parrikar's request, D'Souza said he would not advise his son, who is aiming for a political career in Mapusa, to join the party. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 4:35:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 24: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Monday dropped from his cabinet two ailing ministers, who would be replaced with new faces, a senior official in the CMO said.

Both the BJP ministers -- Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar -- are currently admitted at hospitals.

The development comes at a time when Parrikar, 62, is undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Parrikar recommended the dropping of D'Souza, who was heading the urban development department, and Madkaikar, who was the power minister, from the cabinet, the official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Madkaikar was admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai after he suffered a brain stroke in June, while D'Souza is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the US.

They would be replaced with BJP legislators Milind Naik and Nilesh Cabral, the official said.

Naik and Cabral will be administered the oath of office by Governor Mridula Sinha Monday evening.

Naik was the power minister in the previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet, while Cabral would be sworn in for the first time.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah had said Sunday that Parrikar would continue in his post and announced that a reshuffle of the state's ministers would soon take place.

Parrikar's poor health has sparked speculation over his continuation as chief minister of Goa, and Shah recently sent a team of central party leaders to the state to speak to allies and take stock of the political situation.

The opposition Congress, which is the single-largest party in the state with 16 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly, has staked claim to form the government.

However, the BJP has asserted that its government continues to have the support of a majority of MLAs.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.
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Hello Jammu News at 2:30:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 24: Two ministers have been dropped from the Manohar Parrikar cabinet in Goa, the chief minister's office (CMO) said Monday.

The BJP's Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar have been ailing for some time and are admitted at hospitals.

The development comes at a time when Chief Minister Parrikar is undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

D'Souza, who was heading the urban development department, and Madkaikar, who was the power minister, have been dropped from the cabinet, according to an official in the CMO.

D'Souza is currently admitted at a hospital in the USA, while Madkaikar, who had suffered a brain stroke in June, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.

Two BJP leaders -- Nilesh Cabral and Milind Naik -- will be sworn in as ministers Monday evening, the official said.

Naik was the power minister in the previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet, while Cabral would be sworn in for the first time.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah had said Sunday that Parrikar would continue in his post and announced that a reshuffle of the state's ministers would soon take place. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 4:32:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 20: Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane Thursday ruled out a change in the leadership of the BJP-led dispensation on account of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's ill health, and alleged the Congress was playing to the gallery by staking claim to form the government as it did not have the required numbers.

The government is functioning "very well" and all the alliance partners are firmly supporting Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment at Delhi's AIIMS, the BJP leader asserted.

The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has staked claim to form the government in the coastal state and said it has the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly.

The opposition party's claim comes at a time when sixty-two-year-old Parrikar is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for a pancreatic ailment.

"The Congress doesn't have the numbers. If they have the support of 21 MLAs, then they should parade them before the governor. They are just playing to the gallery," Rane told reporters here.

He claimed the Congress leaders were constantly calling up BJP MLAs and "pleading" for support.

Asked about the current political situation in the state, he said, "Where is the question of leadership change? We have our chief minister in place. He is undergoing treatment, but that does not mean we should replace him."

"The state government is functioning very well and all the alliance partners are firmly supporting Parrikar, providing stability to the coalition for last one-and-a-half years," he said.

On the visit of BJP's central observers to Goa during the weekend, Rane said, "The party leaders never discussed about change in leadership during their meeting."

Even if there is a question of leadership change, it would be decided by central leaders in consultation with the local BJP unit and alliance partners, he said.

"Right now, it is not the time for leadership change in Goa," he added.

BJP president Amit Shah had sent three party observers -- B L Santhosh, Ram Lal and Vijay Puranik -- to Goa on Sunday to meet the local leaders and alliance partners and take stock of the current political situation.

Rane rubbished the Congress's allegations that governance in the state has come to a standstill in Parrikar's absence.

"Today's world is technology driven. Files can be cleared on e-mail. Even when I am abroad, if there is any urgent file, I clear it on e-mail," the minister said.

The Congress, in its memorandum submitted earlier to Governor Mridula Sinha, had claimed that in absence of the chief minister, the government was not functioning properly.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar said Wednesday that the Congress had the support of over 21 MLAs, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

He had earlier said the BJP might force dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February 2017.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 8:03:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Sep 19: A delegation of BJP leaders who had gone to Goa to take stock of the political situation there, briefed party president Amit Shah on Wednesday, sources said, adding it is unlikely that party will immediately change the chief minister of the state.

In view of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's indisposition, a delegation of BJP leaders, led by organisational secretary Ram Lal, met Shah at his residence here and discussed at length the current situation in the state.

Sources said there is no threat to the BJP-led government in the state and the alliance is intact. It is unlikely the party will change the leadership immediately.

Parrikar, 62, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment.

The BJP has 14 legislators in the 40-member Goa Assembly, while the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) have three each. The BJP is also supported by three Independent MLAs.

After meeting the allies in Goa, Ram Lal had said the alliance partners have stated that they will agree to any political decision taken by the BJP.

The Congress has 16 MLAs while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has one legislator. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 1:57:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 19: The opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has already staked claim to form the government in the coastal state.

The opposition party's claim comes at a time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (62) is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar told that the Congress had enough support to form the government in Goa.

"We have the required numbers. I am not going to tell you whom we are in discussions with, but we need the support of 21 MLAs and we have more than that," he said.

The Congress legislators, led by Kavlekar, had met Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday and demanded a floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

Kavlekar said his party was waiting for a response from the governor, who had assured them that she would get back on the issue in three-four days.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.

Kavlekar claimed the political situation in the state was in the favour of the Congress as there was a lot of "discontent" among the ruling coalition partners.

"You have seen how the BJP observers came to Goa and met their legislators, former MLAs and alliance partners. They are also talking about inviting a leader from one of the allies to head the government.

"This has created a bitter situation as allowing one alliance partner to head the coalition will upset another," he said.

Kavlekar also claimed that a section within the BJP was upset over the possibility of a leader being "imported" from outside and was in touch with the Congress for joining the opposition party.

"We need not go to anyone with the proposal of supporting or joining us. In fact, they are coming to us with proposals," he added.

The Congress leader had earlier said the BJP might force the dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February, 2017.

The Congress legislators have urged the governor not to allow the Assembly to be dissolved.

BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, who, along with two other senior leaders, was deputed by the party's central leadership to take stock of the political situation in Goa, had on Monday said the state government was stable and there was no demand for a change in the leadership.

He had said this after a meeting with the party's MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

According to Ram Lal, the allies of the saffron party had conveyed that they would abide by any political decision taken by it.

On May 18 too, the Congress had staked claim to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka, where the largest-party, the BJP, was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said it was not invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls last year, despite emerging as the single-largest party.

The party representatives had also met the governor on September 7, urging her to intervene as the state administration was suffering due to the failing health of the chief minister. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 6:27:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sep 18: Goa Congress legislators will meet Governor Mridula Sinha Tuesday evening with a demand for dismissal of the Manohar Parrikar-led government and allowing the opposition party to stake claim for forming an alternate government.

The move comes at a time when 62-year-old Parrikar is admitted in the AIIMS in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Goa is being ruled by the BJP-led Alliance headed by Parrikar.

The Congress, which has 16 members in the 40-member state Assembly, yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Governor in her absence, urging her not to dissolve the Assembly and instead invite the party to form the alternate government.

All the 16 Congress MLAs, led by their leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, had submitted the memorandum to Governor office.

Speaking to PTI, Kavlekar said the Governor, who was away from the state, arrived in Goa at 3 pm today and her office called him for the meeting of the Congress legislators with her at 6.30 pm.

"We all 16 MLAs will be meeting the Governor and will request her to dismiss the present government. We will also ask her to invite us to form the new government," he said.

He said the Congress has support of legislators from other parties and can form the government, if given a chance by the governor.

He, however, refused to spell out who all are supporting the Congress.

"We will prove our majority on the floor of the House, Kavlekar said.

The Leader of the Opposition said the BJP has a habit of forcing Governors Rule in a state where they fail to rule and the Congress will not allow to happen it.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, its allies Goa Forward Party and MGP have three each. Three Independents and an MLA from Nationalist Congress Party also support the BJP.

BJP leader Ram Lal had said yesterday that the Goa government is stable and no demand has been made for a change in the leadership.

He stated this after a meeting with party MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

He said the BJP's alliance partners - the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents - conveyed that they will agree to any political decision taken by the saffron party.

Earlier too, the Congress had staked claim on May 18, 2018 to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka where the largest party BJP was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said that it had not been invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls in March last year despite it emerging as the largest single party.

The party had also met Governor on September 7, 2018 urging her to intervene as State Administration was suffering due to sickness of the Chief Minister. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 4:35:00 PM 0

Panaji, Sept 17: With Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hospitalised, Goa's main opposition Congress party submitted a memorandum to Governor Mridula Sinha Monday, staking claim to form an alternate government.

The move came at a time when the BJP high command has sent three senior leaders -- Ram Lal, B L Santhosh and Vinay Puranik -- here to meet the state party leaders and allies to take stock of the political situation.

Parrikar, 62, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, is currently admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment.

The Congress, which has 16 members in the 40-member state Assembly, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, urging her not to dissolve the Assembly and instead invite the party to form the government, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said.

The state is being ruled by the BJP-led Alliance.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, its allies Goa Forward Party and MGP have three each. Three Independents and an MLA from Nationalist Congress Party also support the BJP.

All the 16 Congress MLAs, led by Kavlekar, went to the Raj Bhavan but could not meet the governor as she is out of the state.

"The party urged the governor not to consider dissolution of the state Legislative Assembly, which is a possibility considering internal fighting in the ruling alliance and illness of Parrikar," Kavlekar told PTI.

He said the Congress has support of legislators from other parties and can form the government, if given a chance by governor.

"We will prove our majority on the floor of the House," he said.

Earlier, BJP leader Ram Lal said the Goa government is stable and no demand has been made for a change in the leadership.

He stated this after a meeting with party MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

He said the BJP's alliance partners - the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents - conveyed that they will agree to any political decision taken by the saffron party. (PTI)
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