<p>Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has been hospitalised in Mumbai for mild pancreatitis, is expected to be discharged in a day or two, his office said today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parrikar, who was initially referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here, was yesterday taken to Mumbai&#39;s Lilavati Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s a case of mild pancreatitis. The chief minister is well and under observation. He is likely to be discharged in a day or two,&quot; the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a statement here.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parrikar (62) complained of stomach-ache on Wednesday night and visited the GMCH for a health examination.</p>

<p>After the check-up, he was taken to Mumbai in a flight for further medical examination.</p>

<p>Pancreatitis is a medical condition characterised by inflammation of the pancreas, an abdominal gland situated behind the stomach in the upper abdomen.</p>

<p>The main function of the pancreas is to secrete hormones and enzymes that help with digestion and regulate blood sugar metabolism. The CMO had said yesterday that Parrikar would be back in Goa on Sunday and will attend the budget session of the Assembly beginning from Monday.&nbsp;</p>


"It's a case of mild pancreatitis. The chief minister is well and under observation. He is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a statement

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has been hospitalised in Mumbai for mild pancreatitis, is expected to be discharged in a day or two, his office said today. Parrikar, who was initially referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here, was yesterday taken to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. "It's a case of mild pancreatitis. The chief minister is well and under observation. He is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a statement here. Parrikar (62) complained of stomach-ache on Wednesday night and visited the GMCH for a health examination. After the check-up, he was taken to Mumbai in a flight for further medical examination. Pancreatitis is a medical condition characterised by inflammation of the pancreas, an abdominal gland situated behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The main function of the pancreas is to secrete hormones and enzymes that help with digestion and regulate blood sugar metabolism. The CMO had said yesterday that Parrikar would be back in Goa on Sunday and will attend the budget session of the Assembly beginning from Monday.

Parrikar down with mild pancreatitis, to be discharged soon

<p>Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar today defended his colleague, cabinet minister Vijay Sardesai who controversially called domestic tourists <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/goa-cabinet-minister-calls-domestic-tourists-scum-of-the-earth-32410">&quot;scum of the earth&quot;</a>.</p>

<p>The Goa chief minister said that the town and country planning minister was not able to express himself correctly and was referring to an isolated incident of a tourist urinating from the window of a bus.</p>

<p>&quot;He (Sardesai) should not have used very harsh words. I have spoken to him about it. He was not wrong in what he was highlighting. But he interpreted it in a wrong way or rather, he was not able to express it correctly,&quot; Manohar Parrikar said.</p>

<p>He added that the minister had corrected himself later and that &quot;sometimes, a politician has to be careful while making a statement.&quot;</p>

<p>The Goa chief minister also said that there was &quot;a possibility of dilution or modification of the statement&quot; if a report was filed by a journalist not present at the event.</p>

<p>Media reports had quoted Sardesai as saying, &#39;&#39;Today we have almost six times the population of Goa coming as tourists, those tourists are not top-end tourists, they are also the scum of the earth. Are they responsible? They are not.&quot;</p>

<p>He has also said that north Indians who visit Goa want to &quot;create Haryana in Goa&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We are dependent on north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They will like to recreate Haryana in Goa&quot;, the cabinet minister had said.</p>

<p>Vijai Sardesai, meanwhile, has refused to take back his comments, stating that he voiced the general sentiment of the locals. He also said that the domestic tourists create the maximum nuisance and spread garbage in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Manohar Parrikar is himself in the centre of a storm after his remarks that he was fearful that even girls had started<br />
drinking beer.</p>


The Goa chief minister said that the town and country planning minister was not able to express himself correctly and was referring to an isolated incident

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar today defended his colleague, cabinet minister Vijay Sardesai who controversially called domestic tourists "scum of the earth". The Goa chief minister said that the town and country planning minister was not able to express himself correctly and was referring to an isolated incident of a tourist urinating from the window of a bus. "He (Sardesai) should not have used very harsh words. I have spoken to him about it. He was not wrong in what he was highlighting. But he interpreted it in a wrong way or rather, he was not able to express it correctly," Manohar Parrikar said. He added that the minister had corrected himself later and that "sometimes, a politician has to be careful while making a statement." The Goa chief minister also said that there was "a possibility of dilution or modification of the statement" if a report was filed by a journalist not present at the event. Media reports had quoted Sardesai as saying, ''Today we have almost six times the population of Goa coming as tourists, those tourists are not top-end tourists, they are also the scum of the earth. Are they responsible? They are not." He has also said that north Indians who visit Goa want to "create Haryana in Goa". "We are dependent on north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They will like to recreate Haryana in Goa", the cabinet minister had said. Vijai Sardesai, meanwhile, has refused to take back his comments, stating that he voiced the general sentiment of the locals. He also said that the domestic tourists create the maximum nuisance and spread garbage in the state. Manohar Parrikar is himself in the centre of a storm after his remarks that he was fearful that even girls had started drinking beer.

Manohar Parrikar defends minister who called domestic tourists 'scum of the earth'

<p>Facing criticism on the social media for his remarks on girls consuming liquor, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday claimed that he was referring to &#39;&#39;school and college students&#39;&#39; and added that the media twisted his statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The chief minister today said, &quot;If someone wants to purposely twist the statement, we cannot help it.&quot;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-trolls-manohar-parrikar-over-his-statement-of-being-a-worried-man-because-girls-have-started-drinking-32403">Twitterati trolls Manohar Parrikar over his statement on girls drinking alcohol</a></p>

<p>&quot;It was twisted in such a way that finally the interviewer (the person who had taken the public interview of Parrikar at the event) had to intervene and tweet that I was referring to school and college students,&quot; he told reporters here, adding that he had &quot;not asked anyone not to drink&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;I am not talking about everyone. I am not talking about those sitting here,&quot; he was quoted by the media as saying while addressing the State Youth Parliament organised by the state Legislature department.</p>

<p>The chief minister today said, &quot;If someone wants to purposely twist the statement, we cannot help it.&quot;</p>

<p>Parrikar also said his remarks were not an expression of fear, but a worry.</p>

<p>&quot;I had said it was my worry, not even fear. Worry is different from fear,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;worry is fundamental to every person&quot;.</p>

<p>To a question on Sardesai&#39;s comments on domestic tourists, the chief minister said, &quot;Sometimes, a politician has to be careful while making a statement.</p>

<p>The Goa CM also said that the politicians needed to be careful while making statements, referring to his cabinet colleague, Vijai Sardesai, who had dubbed a section of domestic tourists visiting the coastal state as the &quot;scum of the earth&quot;.</p>

<p>However, Parrikar also said Sardesai was not wrong in highlighting the issue but that he interpreted it in an incorrect way.</p>

<p>&quot;But sometimes, if a report is filed by a journalist who was not present at the event, there is a possibility of dilution or modification of the statement.&quot;</p>

<p>He said Sardesai was referring to an incident of a tourist urinating from a bus window, the video of which had gone viral on the social media.</p>

<p><em>(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;</em></p>


The chief minister today said, "If someone wants to purposely twist the statement, we cannot help it."

Facing criticism on the social media for his remarks on girls consuming liquor, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday claimed that he was referring to ''school and college students'' and added that the media twisted his statement. The chief minister today said, "If someone wants to purposely twist the statement, we cannot help it." Also read: Twitterati trolls Manohar Parrikar over his statement on girls drinking alcohol "It was twisted in such a way that finally the interviewer (the person who had taken the public interview of Parrikar at the event) had to intervene and tweet that I was referring to school and college students," he told reporters here, adding that he had "not asked anyone not to drink". "I am not talking about everyone. I am not talking about those sitting here," he was quoted by the media as saying while addressing the State Youth Parliament organised by the state Legislature department. The chief minister today said, "If someone wants to purposely twist the statement, we cannot help it." Parrikar also said his remarks were not an expression of fear, but a worry. "I had said it was my worry, not even fear. Worry is different from fear," he said, adding that "worry is fundamental to every person". To a question on Sardesai's comments on domestic tourists, the chief minister said, "Sometimes, a politician has to be careful while making a statement. The Goa CM also said that the politicians needed to be careful while making statements, referring to his cabinet colleague, Vijai Sardesai, who had dubbed a section of domestic tourists visiting the coastal state as the "scum of the earth". However, Parrikar also said Sardesai was not wrong in highlighting the issue but that he interpreted it in an incorrect way. "But sometimes, if a report is filed by a journalist who was not present at the event, there is a possibility of dilution or modification of the statement." He said Sardesai was referring to an incident of a tourist urinating from a bus window, the video of which had gone viral on the social media. (With PTI inputs)

Media twisted my remarks on girls drinking liquor, says Parrikar

<p>Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that poor people should also stay clean and that it cost less to be clean.</p>

<p>&quot;Let us be clean and neat. Poor persons should also stay clean. I think it doesn&#39;t cost. In fact, it costs less. Simple things can be done. All those things will happen,&quot; Parrikar said here.</p>

<p>Manohar Parrikar was referring to the lack of hygiene, especially by street vendors hawking outside Goa Medical College and Hospital, located near Panaji, Goa&#39;s biggest medical facility in the state capital.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from ANI</em>)</p>


Manohar Parrikar said that it cost less to be clean

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that poor people should also stay clean and that it cost less to be clean. "Let us be clean and neat. Poor persons should also stay clean. I think it doesn't cost. In fact, it costs less. Simple things can be done. All those things will happen," Parrikar said here. Manohar Parrikar was referring to the lack of hygiene, especially by street vendors hawking outside Goa Medical College and Hospital, located near Panaji, Goa's biggest medical facility in the state capital. (With inputs from ANI)

Poor should also stay clean: Manohar Parrikar

<p>Bengaluru will&nbsp;be hit by two bandhs in almost 10 days called by the farmers and pro-Kannada organisation president Vatal Nagaraj.</p>

<p>The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest.</p>

<p>One bandh called on January 25, will be observed statewide and the other one would be organised in Bengaluru only on February 4.</p>

<p>The February 4 bandh intends to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is scheduled on the same date when the prime minister is also visiting the state to attend the Parivarthana rally.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, on Sunday Nagaraj was addressing a press meet in which he had a protest from farmers questioning him on the authority of whom Nagaraj asked before announcing bandh. However, the conflict was later resolved and the farmers and Nagaraj addressed a joint press meet.</p>

<p>The state of Karnataka and Goa are in dispute on the issue of sharing the inter-state Mahadayi river water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa.</p>

<p>Karnataka is seeking the release of 7.56 tmc ft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A&nbsp;similar protest was observed on December 27 in which the protestors raised anti-government slogans and effigies were burnt.</p>

<p>The protest is being led by the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-call-for-bandh-in-karnataka-over-mahadayi-water-dispute-27858">Mahadayi</a> Kalasa Banduri Nala Horata Samanvaya Samiti, getting support from several pro-Kannada groups and other organisations.</p>

<p>Earlier, a petition filed by the Karnataka government was rejected by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on grounds that the project may cause ecological damage.</p>

<p>A meeting was called by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar&nbsp;&quot;to arrive at a negotiated settlement&quot; over the issue in December.</p>


The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest.

Bengaluru will be hit by two bandhs in almost 10 days called by the farmers and pro-Kannada organisation president Vatal Nagaraj. The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest. One bandh called on January 25, will be observed statewide and the other one would be organised in Bengaluru only on February 4. The February 4 bandh intends to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is scheduled on the same date when the prime minister is also visiting the state to attend the Parivarthana rally. Meanwhile, on Sunday Nagaraj was addressing a press meet in which he had a protest from farmers questioning him on the authority of whom Nagaraj asked before announcing bandh. However, the conflict was later resolved and the farmers and Nagaraj addressed a joint press meet. The state of Karnataka and Goa are in dispute on the issue of sharing the inter-state Mahadayi river water. While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa. Karnataka is seeking the release of 7.56 tmc ft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. A similar protest was observed on December 27 in which the protestors raised anti-government slogans and effigies were burnt. The protest is being led by the Mahadayi Kalasa Banduri Nala Horata Samanvaya Samiti, getting support from several pro-Kannada groups and other organisations. Earlier, a petition filed by the Karnataka government was rejected by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on grounds that the project may cause ecological damage. A meeting was called by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar "to arrive at a negotiated settlement" over the issue in December.

Karnataka: 2 bandhs in 10 days over river dispute

<p>Cabinet minister&nbsp; of Goa government, Vijay Sardesai stirred a controversy on Saturday&nbsp;by calling majority domestic tourist &quot;scum of the earth.&quot;</p>

<p>Media reports quoted Sardesai as saying, &#39;&#39;Today we have almost six times the population of Goa coming as tourists, those tourists are not top-end tourists, they are also the scum of the earth. Are they responsible? They are not.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Continuing his rant against Indians tourists, he further said that north Indians who visit Goa want&nbsp;to &quot;create Haryana in Goa&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We are dependent on north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They will like to recreate Haryana in Goa&quot;, he said.</p>

<p>The President of Goa Forward Party, an ally of BJP, was speaking at the Goa BizFest in Bambolim. He asked the government to attract foreign and upper-class Indian tourists.</p>

<p>He also added that it is difficult for the state to control &#39;&#39;irresponsible tourists&#39;&#39;.</p>

<p>People&nbsp;on social media were also quick to call out the Sardesai for his statement.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Goa&#39;s BJP-led govt minister vijay sardesai says that domestic tourist are scum of the earth and north indian out to create a haryana in goa, poor indian tourist come here and make it dirty<a href="https://twitter.com/mlkhattar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mlkhattar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a> ji will you take any serious action against him <a href="https://t.co/FSyotR4M9r">pic.twitter.com/FSyotR4M9r</a></p>
&mdash; ????????C.P.Sharma???????? (@cpsharma1234567) <a href="https://twitter.com/cpsharma1234567/status/962207846006837248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As a Goan, i want more &amp; more north Indian from Hindi belt to come and settle in Goa. Goa does not belong to Vijay Sardesai&#39;s father. Goa is part of India and every Indian has right to settle in any part of India. <a href="https://twitter.com/Goaforwardparty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Goaforwardparty</a> <a href="https://t.co/NZm7HOAo9K">https://t.co/NZm7HOAo9K</a></p>
&mdash; Goenkar (@Pritmansi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pritmansi/status/962220120239058945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">May b Vijay sardesai was talking abt Haryana mentally and Manohar parrikar&#39;s objection to girls consuming beer is perfect example of Haryana in Goa. Go teach your CM. <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a></p>
&mdash; satire (@SaatAiyyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaatAiyyer/status/962251577808556032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">People like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vijaysardesai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vijaysardesai</a> should get rid of inferiority complex due to their third class personality<br />
How many medals/awards in international sports, literature &amp; science r won by these west Indians<br />
They behave like pets sitting in front of palaces/economic capital only to litter</p>
&mdash; Jyotirmay (@jshukla1982) <a href="https://twitter.com/jshukla1982/status/962238128399573003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier in the day Goa chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-trolls-manohar-parrikar-over-his-statement-of-being-a-worried-man-because-girls-have-started-drinking-32403">Manohar Parrikar also sparked a controversy </a>saying that he is a worried&nbsp;man now because &quot;girls have started consuming alcohol&quot;. Parrikar made the statement while addressing a youth gathering in Goa.</p>


Continuing his rant against Indians tourists further said that north Indians who visit Goa wants to 'create Haryana in Goa'

Cabinet minister of Goa government, Vijay Sardesai stirred a controversy on Saturday by calling majority domestic tourist "scum of the earth." Media reports quoted Sardesai as saying, ''Today we have almost six times the population of Goa coming as tourists, those tourists are not top-end tourists, they are also the scum of the earth. Are they responsible? They are not.” Continuing his rant against Indians tourists, he further said that north Indians who visit Goa want to "create Haryana in Goa". "We are dependent on north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They will like to recreate Haryana in Goa", he said. The President of Goa Forward Party, an ally of BJP, was speaking at the Goa BizFest in Bambolim. He asked the government to attract foreign and upper-class Indian tourists. He also added that it is difficult for the state to control ''irresponsible tourists''. People on social media were also quick to call out the Sardesai for his statement. Goa's BJP-led govt minister vijay sardesai says that domestic tourist are scum of the earth and north indian out to create a haryana in goa, poor indian tourist come here and make it dirty@mlkhattar @narendramodi @manoharparrikar ji will you take any serious action against him pic.twitter.com/FSyotR4M9r — ????????C.P.Sharma???????? (@cpsharma1234567) February 10, 2018 × As a Goan, i want more & more north Indian from Hindi belt to come and settle in Goa. Goa does not belong to Vijay Sardesai's father. Goa is part of India and every Indian has right to settle in any part of India. @Goaforwardparty https://t.co/NZm7HOAo9K — Goenkar (@Pritmansi) February 10, 2018 × May b Vijay sardesai was talking abt Haryana mentally and Manohar parrikar's objection to girls consuming beer is perfect example of Haryana in Goa. Go teach your CM. @manoharparrikar — satire (@SaatAiyyer) February 10, 2018 × People like #vijaysardesai should get rid of inferiority complex due to their third class personality How many medals/awards in international sports, literature & science r won by these west Indians They behave like pets sitting in front of palaces/economic capital only to litter — Jyotirmay (@jshukla1982) February 10, 2018 × Earlier in the day Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar also sparked a controversy saying that he is a worried man now because "girls have started consuming alcohol". Parrikar made the statement while addressing a youth gathering in Goa.

Goa cabinet minister calls domestic tourists 'scum of the earth'

<p>Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has sparked an outrage on social media after he said that he was a worried man these days because girls have started consuming alcohol while addressing a youth gathering in Goa.</p>

<p>&quot;I have begun to fear now because even the girls have started drinking beer. So barrier of that tolerance limit is being crossed..Not all of them. I am not referring to this crowd. I am just referring&quot;, he said while addressing state youth parliament organized by legislature Secretariat, Porvorim in Goa.</p>

<p>Parrikar also discussed topics ranging from drugs,&nbsp;ganja to Porn. Narrating a story of his years in IIT-Mumbai, he said he knew of a small group&nbsp;involved in Ganja during his campus years.</p>

<p>He then went on to talk about the crackdown on drug peddlers in the state and how it will continue to remove drugs from the state.</p>

<p>He talked about how in August 2017 more than 170 peddlers were arrested on his direction.</p>

<p>Goa is notable for its low priced alcohol drinks due to its low excise duty on alcohol and is one of the main sources of the cash inflow in the state.</p>

<p>Twitterati was not behind in trolling Manohar Parrikar over his statement.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a> If you think Girls consuming alcohol is bad, time for you to go on a world tour or even north of India#realitycheck#Educateratherrestrict</p>
&mdash; Ankit Dalal (@dalalankit) <a href="https://twitter.com/dalalankit/status/962237804607504386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Man, this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManoharParrikar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManoharParrikar</a> nightmare is spine-chilling. <a href="https://t.co/crwDFHuESP">pic.twitter.com/crwDFHuESP</a></p>
&mdash; Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) <a href="https://twitter.com/sayantansunnyg/status/962245866470899712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a> expounding and reinforcing a stereotype from last century re <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/women?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#women</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/alcohol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#alcohol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#beer</a><br />
<br />
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Feminism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Feminism</a> movement seems to have skipped him &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Goa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Goa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SHEROESIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHEROESIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/plumpernickel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@plumpernickel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BDUTT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BDUTT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sagarikaghose?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sagarikaghose</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MirchiShivani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MirchiShivani</a><a href="https://t.co/pm5MqHoh2l">https://t.co/pm5MqHoh2l</a></p>
&mdash; Apurv Nagpal (@apurvnagpal) <a href="https://twitter.com/apurvnagpal/status/962245800779796480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I drink not just beer but vodka and rum as well.. <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a> do you want Z plus security?</p>
&mdash; Johanna Lokhande (@jlokhande007) <a href="https://twitter.com/jlokhande007/status/962245627743633408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">hehe<br />
Girls drink beers<br />
Manohar Parrikar fears <a href="https://t.co/lLQRuRoNOG">pic.twitter.com/lLQRuRoNOG</a></p>
&mdash; Drunk BATMAN (@Caped_Humor) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caped_Humor/status/962245592373018625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here Mr. <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoharparrikar</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GirlsDrinkingBeer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GirlsDrinkingBeer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/girlslovebeer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#girlslovebeer</a> ???? tagging ladies to post more pics ????<a href="https://twitter.com/Mumbaiguru?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mumbaiguru</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Heeral_Savani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Heeral_Savani</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/soy21?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@soy21</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/seems2me?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seems2me</a><br />
<br />
Cheers!!???? <a href="https://t.co/bux1wZkAsB">pic.twitter.com/bux1wZkAsB</a></p>
&mdash; Megha Sharma (@Megha75) <a href="https://twitter.com/Megha75/status/962245171374116864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Manohar Parrikar has sparked an outrage while he was addressing a youth gathering saying he is a worried man these days because girls have started consuming alcohol

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has sparked an outrage on social media after he said that he was a worried man these days because girls have started consuming alcohol while addressing a youth gathering in Goa. "I have begun to fear now because even the girls have started drinking beer. So barrier of that tolerance limit is being crossed..Not all of them. I am not referring to this crowd. I am just referring", he said while addressing state youth parliament organized by legislature Secretariat, Porvorim in Goa. Parrikar also discussed topics ranging from drugs, ganja to Porn. Narrating a story of his years in IIT-Mumbai, he said he knew of a small group involved in Ganja during his campus years. He then went on to talk about the crackdown on drug peddlers in the state and how it will continue to remove drugs from the state. He talked about how in August 2017 more than 170 peddlers were arrested on his direction. Goa is notable for its low priced alcohol drinks due to its low excise duty on alcohol and is one of the main sources of the cash inflow in the state. Twitterati was not behind in trolling Manohar Parrikar over his statement. @manoharparrikar If you think Girls consuming alcohol is bad, time for you to go on a world tour or even north of India#realitycheck#Educateratherrestrict — Ankit Dalal (@dalalankit) February 10, 2018 × Man, this #ManoharParrikar nightmare is spine-chilling. pic.twitter.com/crwDFHuESP — Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) February 10, 2018 × This is @manoharparrikar expounding and reinforcing a stereotype from last century re #women #alcohol #beer The #Feminism movement seems to have skipped him & #Goa @SHEROESIndia @plumpernickel @BDUTT @sagarikaghose @MirchiShivanihttps://t.co/pm5MqHoh2l — Apurv Nagpal (@apurvnagpal) February 10, 2018 × I drink not just beer but vodka and rum as well.. @manoharparrikar do you want Z plus security? — Johanna Lokhande (@jlokhande007) February 10, 2018 × hehe Girls drink beers Manohar Parrikar fears pic.twitter.com/lLQRuRoNOG — Drunk BATMAN (@Caped_Humor) February 10, 2018 × Here Mr. @manoharparrikar! #GirlsDrinkingBeer #girlslovebeer ???? tagging ladies to post more pics ????@Mumbaiguru@Heeral_Savani @soy21 @seems2me Cheers!!???? pic.twitter.com/bux1wZkAsB — Megha Sharma (@Megha75) February 10, 2018 ×

Twitterati trolls Manohar Parrikar over his statement on girls drinking alcohol

<p>Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, recently noted that he no longer rides a scooter fearing an accident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;People ask me whether I travel on a scooter. I tell them that I don&#39;t anymore. My mind is filled with work-related thoughts and if I ride my scooter while my mind is somewhere else, then I could meet with an accident,&quot; Mr Parrikar told a gathering in Canacona on Saturday.</p>

<p>While the minister talked on road-safety, he noted that the government of Goa is planning to adopt a series of measures to reduce road accidents and also plans to bring down road fatalities.</p>

<p>In the past, Parrikar was often seen riding a scooter around Panaji, purchasing things from the local markets.</p>

<p>However, he now admits avoiding riding or even travelling on a scooter as a pillion.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


In the past, Parrikar was often seen riding a scooter around Panaji, purchasing things from the local markets

Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, recently noted that he no longer rides a scooter fearing an accident. "People ask me whether I travel on a scooter. I tell them that I don't anymore. My mind is filled with work-related thoughts and if I ride my scooter while my mind is somewhere else, then I could meet with an accident," Mr Parrikar told a gathering in Canacona on Saturday. While the minister talked on road-safety, he noted that the government of Goa is planning to adopt a series of measures to reduce road accidents and also plans to bring down road fatalities. In the past, Parrikar was often seen riding a scooter around Panaji, purchasing things from the local markets. However, he now admits avoiding riding or even travelling on a scooter as a pillion. (With inputs from PTI)

Goa chief minister doesn't ride a scooter anymore. Here's why 

<p>Goa chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/goas-bjp-govt-set-to-ban-late-night-parties-14487">Manohar Parrikar has issued a notification banning</a> drinking liquor at public places in the state.</p>

<p>While announcing the ban at a press conference, CM Parrikar said:&nbsp;&quot;If someone wants to drink(liquor), they should drink inside and not in public places. In the next 15 days, I will hold meetings with government officials to ban the consumption of liquor at public places.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Liquor shops will face the music if people are found drinking in the open spaces near the shop,&quot; the chief minister added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parrikar said that the government will also impose fines or cancel the licence of the liquor shops which&nbsp;allow&nbsp;people to drink near it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Drinking liquor at beaches in Goa has&nbsp;already been banned by the state government. The CM said his government is currently reviewing the&nbsp;licences to the liquor outlets under Goa, Daman and Diu Excise Act, 1964.</p>

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The state government has already banned drinking liquor at beaches in Goa

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has issued a notification banning drinking liquor at public places in the state. While announcing the ban at a press conference, CM Parrikar said: "If someone wants to drink(liquor), they should drink inside and not in public places. In the next 15 days, I will hold meetings with government officials to ban the consumption of liquor at public places." "Liquor shops will face the music if people are found drinking in the open spaces near the shop," the chief minister added. Parrikar said that the government will also impose fines or cancel the licence of the liquor shops which allow people to drink near it. Drinking liquor at beaches in Goa has already been banned by the state government. The CM said his government is currently reviewing the licences to the liquor outlets under Goa, Daman and Diu Excise Act, 1964.

Drinking liquor at public places to be banned in Goa: CM Manohar Parrikar

<p>Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has announced that the state will ban liquor consumption in public places.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While addressing a &#39;Swachch Bharat&#39; conference in Panaji on Sunday he said that the ban will be implemented within 15 days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said &quot;If someone wants to drink (liquor), they should drink inside and not in public places&quot;.</p>

<p>The move has been initiated to curb the nuisance created by people in drunken state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also added that the government will also put fines or cancel the license of the liquor shops that will allow people to drink within its premises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Goa government has already put restrictions on drinking on the beaches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


While addressing a 'Swachch Bharat' conference in Panaji on Sunday he said that the ban will be implemented within 15 days.?

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has announced that the state will ban liquor consumption in public places. While addressing a 'Swachch Bharat' conference in Panaji on Sunday he said that the ban will be implemented within 15 days. He said "If someone wants to drink (liquor), they should drink inside and not in public places". The move has been initiated to curb the nuisance created by people in drunken state. He also added that the government will also put fines or cancel the license of the liquor shops that will allow people to drink within its premises. Goa government has already put restrictions on drinking on the beaches.

Goa government to ban drinking in public places

<p>Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday that it was an &quot;insulting question&quot; from a television anchor that had led to last year&#39;s surgical strikes in PoK.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &quot;insulting question&quot; had been asked of union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On June 4, 2015, Naga militant group NSCN-K had ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Manipur&#39;s Chandel district and killed 18 jawans.</p>

<p>PTI reported Parrikar as saying, when he was informed about the incident, &quot;I felt insulted....A small terrorist organisation of 200 people killing 18 Dogra soldiers was an insult to the Indian Army and we sat in the afternoon and sat in the evening and worked out the (plan of) first surgical strike which was conducted on 8th June morning in which about 70-80 terrorists were killed (along the India-Myanmar border).&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;It was a very successful strike,&quot; Parrikar said. PTI reported him as adding that the only injury to the Army was a leech attaching itself to a soldier&#39;s leg.</p>

<p>Parrikar, who is now chief minister of Goa and was speaking there before a gathering of industrialists, then went on to talk about the &quot;insulting question&quot;.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&quot;But one question (from media) hurt me. (Union minister) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an ex-Armyman, was on TV and he was explaining about all kinds of search operations. An anchor asked him &#39;would you have the courage and capability of doing the same on the western front&#39;,&quot; PTI reported him as saying.</p>

<p>&quot;I listened very intensely but decided to answer when the time came. The starting of September 29 (2016) surgical strike on the western border was 9th of June, 2015....We planned 15 months in advance. Additional troops were trained. Equipment was procured on priority basis,&quot; he said.</p>

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The 'insulting question' was asked of union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore

Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday that it was an "insulting question" from a television anchor that had led to last year's surgical strikes in PoK. The "insulting question" had been asked of union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. On June 4, 2015, Naga militant group NSCN-K had ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district and killed 18 jawans. PTI reported Parrikar as saying, when he was informed about the incident, "I felt insulted....A small terrorist organisation of 200 people killing 18 Dogra soldiers was an insult to the Indian Army and we sat in the afternoon and sat in the evening and worked out the (plan of) first surgical strike which was conducted on 8th June morning in which about 70-80 terrorists were killed (along the India-Myanmar border)." "It was a very successful strike," Parrikar said. PTI reported him as adding that the only injury to the Army was a leech attaching itself to a soldier's leg. Parrikar, who is now chief minister of Goa and was speaking there before a gathering of industrialists, then went on to talk about the "insulting question". "But one question (from media) hurt me. (Union minister) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an ex-Armyman, was on TV and he was explaining about all kinds of search operations. An anchor asked him 'would you have the courage and capability of doing the same on the western front'," PTI reported him as saying. "I listened very intensely but decided to answer when the time came. The starting of September 29 (2016) surgical strike on the western border was 9th of June, 2015....We planned 15 months in advance. Additional troops were trained. Equipment was procured on priority basis," he said.

'Insulting question' from TV anchor led to surgical strikes in PoK: Ex-defence minister Parrikar

<p>The Congress is finding it difficult to swallow the reality that it has been outfoxed in Goa, despite emerging as the single largest party in the recently held assembly election.</p>

<p>Even as it was celebrating its win, the Bharatiya Janata Party cobbled an alliance that secured a majority in the 40-member House. The Congress&rsquo;s last ditch appeal to the Supreme Court also failed to stop the formation of a BJP-led government. Even as it continued to hurl accusations, the new government won the floor test too.</p>

<p>As if this was not trouble enough for the Congress, there is a revolt brewing within the party. Senior leader and newly elected MLA Vishwajit Rane has quit the party and his Goa Assembly membership in disgust. It&rsquo;s expected that more could follow.</p>

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<h5>The central leadership of the Congress party ought to have cracked the whip and asked Faleiro to step aside in the larger interests of the party, but it did not</h5>
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<p>What went wrong for the Congress? At least two things.</p>

<p>To begin with, Congress demonstrated shocking lethargy in the face of a hung House. As the single largest party, it should have moved swiftly to stitch a coalition and approach the governor with enhanced numbers. It ought to have shown flexibility--&nbsp;bend like a willow in the wind and not stood like an obstinate oak, as a party leader remarked. The Goa Forward Party, with three legislators, was willing to do business with the Congress provided state party chief Luzinho Faleiro opted out of the chief ministerial race. The GFP leader Vijay Sardesai and Faleiro do not see eye to eye but Faleiro refused to oblige.</p>

<p>The second mistake was that of the Congress high command led by Rahul Gandhi. It provided no sense of urgency or purpose to its state unit. The central leadership of the Congress party ought to have cracked the whip and asked Faleiro to step aside in the larger interests of the party, but it did not. As a result, veteran Congressman Digvijaya Singh - the party&#39;s&nbsp;nominee to firefight the challenge - was fettered in taking on-the-spot decisions. He had only to win over the GFP and get its three MLAs on board, and the government would have been its for the asking. There was no need to woo the Independents even.</p>

<p>In contrast, the BJP had a tougher task, given its low figures.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s dismissal of Congress&#39;s&nbsp;plea should have ended the talk of any constitutional wrongdoing on the governor&rsquo;s part in inviting the BJP-led combination to form the government</h5>
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<p>The party had to get the support of the GFP, the Independents and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. That it managed to get them all to its side, demonstrates a political adroitness which was missing in the Congress. The BJP did not dither for a moment once the GFP and the MGP made it known that they would extend support only if Manohar Parrikar were to become the chief minister. Parrikar was asked to resign as the country&rsquo;s defence minister and take charge in Goa.</p>

<p>Now outmanoeuvred, the Congress has been crying foul. It sought to raise the issue of ethics, constitutional propriety, and of money power. The Supreme Court&rsquo;s dismissal of Congress&#39;s&nbsp;plea should have ended the talk of any constitutional wrongdoing on the governor&rsquo;s part in inviting the BJP-led combination to form the government. The apex court&rsquo;s telling remarks expose the Congress&rsquo;s weak defence. The court asked: If the Congress had the numbers, why did it then not approach the governor and lay its claim? The judges pointed out that the party&rsquo;s petition before them did not even mention the magic figure or implead Parrikar.</p>

<p>The Congress is on weak grounds on the matter of ethics too. In 2002, the National Conference had bigger numbers in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, but the Congress teamed up with the Peoples Democratic Party to form the government. In 2005, the BJP was the single largest party in Jharkhand, but the Congress teamed up with Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to form the government. In 2013, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Delhi Assembly election, but the Congress extended support to the Aam Aadmi Party and helped it form the government.</p>

<p>The Congress in Goa now faces a period of turmoil. Even an MLA from its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party, backed the BJP-led regime during the trust vote on Thursday. Vishwajit Rane&rsquo;s plans are unclear, but he may well join the BJP or float an outfit that aligns with the BJP. His father, Pratapsinh Rane, is a veteran Congressman and former chief minister. The factions led by the senior Rane and Faleiro are at loggerheads, and for the moment it appears that the latter is on the blackfoot, since many believe his intransigence has led to the party&rsquo;s humiliation.</p>

<p>It is ironical that the 2017 verdict, which should have led to the revival of the Congress in Goa, has proved to be undoing.</p>

<p>The ruling BJP had slipped to 13 seats from the 21 it had won in 2012, and this was a clear thumbs down from the electorate. The reasons for the loss are many, but two factors are primary. The first is the absence of Parrikar from the helm. It is true that even after shifting to Delhi, Parrikar had kept himself connected with the politics of Goa, but a hand on approach was naturally not possible. He commands an across-the-party connect and has excellent relations with several players in the field. For instance, his personal equations with Vijay Sardesai swung the GFP to the BJP&rsquo;s side. The MGP, which broke away from the BJP alliance and contested the election on its own, came around to supporting the BJP once it became known that Parrikar would head the government.</p>

<p>The second cause of the BJP&rsquo;s relatively poor performance was the failure of Laxmikant Parsekar to provide effective leadership. Parsekar took over as chief minister after Parrikar shifted to Delhi as defence minister, but he simply did not have the acumen of his predecessor. The revolt by a section of the RSS in the State, which happened with senior RSS leader Subhash Velingkar forming his own outfit, may have been directed against Parrikar, but it was for Parsekar to tackle it; he failed. There had been murmurs when Parsekar was named the new chief minister, with many within the party of the belief that Deputy Chief Minister Francis D&rsquo; Souza ought to have assumed the mantle.</p>

<p>But all of that is past now. Parrikar has the challenge to reinvigorate the party, balance the demands and counter demands of his coalition partners who hold the key to the Government&rsquo;s survival, and do his bit to exploit the fissures in the Congress. All this, while providing good governance in the run-up to the 2019 general election.</p>


While BJP showed political adroitness, the Congress party stood like an obstinate oak

The Congress is finding it difficult to swallow the reality that it has been outfoxed in Goa, despite emerging as the single largest party in the recently held assembly election. Even as it was celebrating its win, the Bharatiya Janata Party cobbled an alliance that secured a majority in the 40-member House. The Congress’s last ditch appeal to the Supreme Court also failed to stop the formation of a BJP-led government. Even as it continued to hurl accusations, the new government won the floor test too. As if this was not trouble enough for the Congress, there is a revolt brewing within the party. Senior leader and newly elected MLA Vishwajit Rane has quit the party and his Goa Assembly membership in disgust. It’s expected that more could follow. The central leadership of the Congress party ought to have cracked the whip and asked Faleiro to step aside in the larger interests of the party, but it did not × What went wrong for the Congress? At least two things. To begin with, Congress demonstrated shocking lethargy in the face of a hung House. As the single largest party, it should have moved swiftly to stitch a coalition and approach the governor with enhanced numbers. It ought to have shown flexibility-- bend like a willow in the wind and not stood like an obstinate oak, as a party leader remarked. The Goa Forward Party, with three legislators, was willing to do business with the Congress provided state party chief Luzinho Faleiro opted out of the chief ministerial race. The GFP leader Vijay Sardesai and Faleiro do not see eye to eye but Faleiro refused to oblige. The second mistake was that of the Congress high command led by Rahul Gandhi. It provided no sense of urgency or purpose to its state unit. The central leadership of the Congress party ought to have cracked the whip and asked Faleiro to step aside in the larger interests of the party, but it did not. As a result, veteran Congressman Digvijaya Singh - the party's nominee to firefight the challenge - was fettered in taking on-the-spot decisions. He had only to win over the GFP and get its three MLAs on board, and the government would have been its for the asking. There was no need to woo the Independents even. In contrast, the BJP had a tougher task, given its low figures. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Congress's plea should have ended the talk of any constitutional wrongdoing on the governor’s part in inviting the BJP-led combination to form the government × The party had to get the support of the GFP, the Independents and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. That it managed to get them all to its side, demonstrates a political adroitness which was missing in the Congress. The BJP did not dither for a moment once the GFP and the MGP made it known that they would extend support only if Manohar Parrikar were to become the chief minister. Parrikar was asked to resign as the country’s defence minister and take charge in Goa. Now outmanoeuvred, the Congress has been crying foul. It sought to raise the issue of ethics, constitutional propriety, and of money power. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Congress's plea should have ended the talk of any constitutional wrongdoing on the governor’s part in inviting the BJP-led combination to form the government. The apex court’s telling remarks expose the Congress’s weak defence. The court asked: If the Congress had the numbers, why did it then not approach the governor and lay its claim? The judges pointed out that the party’s petition before them did not even mention the magic figure or implead Parrikar. The Congress is on weak grounds on the matter of ethics too. In 2002, the National Conference had bigger numbers in Jammu & Kashmir, but the Congress teamed up with the Peoples Democratic Party to form the government. In 2005, the BJP was the single largest party in Jharkhand, but the Congress teamed up with Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to form the government. In 2013, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Delhi Assembly election, but the Congress extended support to the Aam Aadmi Party and helped it form the government. The Congress in Goa now faces a period of turmoil. Even an MLA from its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party, backed the BJP-led regime during the trust vote on Thursday. Vishwajit Rane’s plans are unclear, but he may well join the BJP or float an outfit that aligns with the BJP. His father, Pratapsinh Rane, is a veteran Congressman and former chief minister. The factions led by the senior Rane and Faleiro are at loggerheads, and for the moment it appears that the latter is on the blackfoot, since many believe his intransigence has led to the party’s humiliation. It is ironical that the 2017 verdict, which should have led to the revival of the Congress in Goa, has proved to be undoing. The ruling BJP had slipped to 13 seats from the 21 it had won in 2012, and this was a clear thumbs down from the electorate. The reasons for the loss are many, but two factors are primary. The first is the absence of Parrikar from the helm. It is true that even after shifting to Delhi, Parrikar had kept himself connected with the politics of Goa, but a hand on approach was naturally not possible. He commands an across-the-party connect and has excellent relations with several players in the field. For instance, his personal equations with Vijay Sardesai swung the GFP to the BJP’s side. The MGP, which broke away from the BJP alliance and contested the election on its own, came around to supporting the BJP once it became known that Parrikar would head the government. The second cause of the BJP’s relatively poor performance was the failure of Laxmikant Parsekar to provide effective leadership. Parsekar took over as chief minister after Parrikar shifted to Delhi as defence minister, but he simply did not have the acumen of his predecessor. The revolt by a section of the RSS in the State, which happened with senior RSS leader Subhash Velingkar forming his own outfit, may have been directed against Parrikar, but it was for Parsekar to tackle it; he failed. There had been murmurs when Parsekar was named the new chief minister, with many within the party of the belief that Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’ Souza ought to have assumed the mantle. But all of that is past now. Parrikar has the challenge to reinvigorate the party, balance the demands and counter demands of his coalition partners who hold the key to the Government’s survival, and do his bit to exploit the fissures in the Congress. All this, while providing good governance in the run-up to the 2019 general election.

What went wrong for the Congress in Goa

<p>Manohar Parrikar, who resigned as India&#39;s defence minister to become the next chief minister of Goa, was sworn-in as the next head of India&#39;s tiny western state on Tuesday.</p>

<p>But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, has come under severe criticism from the Congress who have accused them of &quot;murdering&quot; democracy.</p>

<p>India&#39;s top court on Tuesday&nbsp;allowed Parrikar to be sworn in as the chief minister but asked him to undergo a floor test on Thursday to prove the numbers.</p>

<p>The political churn started soon after the recently-held Goa elections when Congress won 17 Assembly seats as against BJP&#39;s 13. But the BJP outsmarted the Congress by forging post-poll alliances with regional parties and thereby staking their claim on government formation.</p>

<p>The Congress subsequently turned to India&#39;s Supreme Court to intervene in the matter, arguing they have the first right to prove the majority as they were the single-largest party.</p>

<p>To read more about the story, click <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-assembly-elections-top-court-orders-floor-test-in-goa-greenlights-parrikars-swearing-in-13353">here</a>.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Parrikar took the oath amid protests outside Raj Bhavan

Manohar Parrikar, who resigned as India's defence minister to become the next chief minister of Goa, was sworn-in as the next head of India's tiny western state on Tuesday. But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, has come under severe criticism from the Congress who have accused them of "murdering" democracy. India's top court on Tuesday allowed Parrikar to be sworn in as the chief minister but asked him to undergo a floor test on Thursday to prove the numbers. The political churn started soon after the recently-held Goa elections when Congress won 17 Assembly seats as against BJP's 13. But the BJP outsmarted the Congress by forging post-poll alliances with regional parties and thereby staking their claim on government formation. The Congress subsequently turned to India's Supreme Court to intervene in the matter, arguing they have the first right to prove the majority as they were the single-largest party. To read more about the story, click here. (WION)

Manohar Parrikar sworn in as Goa chief minister

<p>Manohar Parrikar has been sworn-in as the next chief minister of Goa, taking the oath of office in his native language Konkani.</p>

<p>The swearing-in ceremony took place amid protests outside Raj Bhavan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The event was attended by several BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Laxmikant Parsekar.</p>

<p>This comes hours after India&#39;s Supreme Court ordered a floor test in Goa after the Congress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-congress-slams-bjp-for-backdoor-entry-in-goa-manipur-13344" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">moved a petition in the apex court challenging the BJP&#39;s bid for&nbsp;government formation</a> in the state.</p>

<p>Supreme Court said the floor test will be held on March 16 as&nbsp;it&nbsp;refused to stay the swearing-in of Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of the state which is due to take place today evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union Minister Nitin Gadkari hit back at the Congress saying, &quot;Congress was not able to choose a leader due to their internal tussle and they are blaming us for it.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;There was no horse-trading in Goa. We had a discussion with non-BJP MLAs and they had some conditions, their support was unanimous,&quot; the minister added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Our fight is against BJP&#39;s ideology, what they did in Manipur &amp; Goa is exactly the ideology we are fighting against: Rahul Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/vqoR1EiF31">pic.twitter.com/vqoR1EiF31</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/841549660657405952">March 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>During the hearing, India&#39;s highest court&nbsp;asked the Congress why it did not approach the governor of Goa over government formation after the Congress moved a petition challenging the appointment of BJP-led Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Khehar observed that numbers should determine single largest party in Goa.</p>

<p>The Congress petition had alleged that established constitutional practices were being violated by the BJP during their bid to&nbsp;form the government in Goa. The Congress also alleged that the BJP was involved in horse-trading to conjure up the numbers in the Goa House.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Rahul Gandhi says, &quot;We are in opposition,you have ups &amp; downs, we had a little down in UP, its fine we accept that&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionResults?src=hash">#ElectionResults</a> <a href="https://t.co/6kj43gXzA1">pic.twitter.com/6kj43gXzA1</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Manohar Parrikar is CM of Goa for two days, if BJP can&#39;t show majority they won&#39;t be allowed to form a government:Abhishek Manu Singhvi <a href="https://t.co/YDhUbygZTA">pic.twitter.com/YDhUbygZTA</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/841547084637458432">March 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>India&#39;s highest court asked the Congress if it had the numbers to form the government in Goa.</p>

<p>The BJP needs the support of 21 MLAs in the 40-member House to prove its majority, the party believes it has the support of 22 MLAs which includes the MGP and Independents.</p>

<p>The Congress, which won 17 seats,&nbsp;had on Saturday&nbsp;emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict as the BJP won 13 seats.</p>

<p>However, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) which had 3 seats in the Goa assembly on Sunday&nbsp;passed a resolution extending support to the BJP, if it formed&nbsp;the&nbsp;government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar.<br />
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The BJP hopes to cobble up the numbers by convincing other parties and Independents to join the coalition&nbsp;and keep the Congress out of power in the coastal state of India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Manohar Parrikar has said he&#39;d comment after he is sworn-in as the chief minister.</p>

<p>But India&#39;s finance minister Arun Jaitley, who also received the added portfolio of the defence ministry after Parrikar resigned to become the Goa CM, slammed the Congress for hindering the BJP from forming the government.</p>

<p>In a Facebook post, Jaitley said: &quot;The Congress Party complains a bit too much. It accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of &#39;stealing&#39; the mandate. It unsuccessfully petitioned before the Supreme Court. It attempted to raise issues at Lok Sabha. What are the facts?&quot;</p>

<p>Jaitley also attributed BJP&#39;s decision to forging post-poll alliances as part of democracy, saying: &quot;Obviously in a Hung Assembly (sic) post-poll alliances will be formed.&quot; &nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


This comes after India's top court greenlit his appointment. However, Parrikar has to prove majority on the floor of the House

Manohar Parrikar has been sworn-in as the next chief minister of Goa, taking the oath of office in his native language Konkani. The swearing-in ceremony took place amid protests outside Raj Bhavan. The event was attended by several BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Laxmikant Parsekar. This comes hours after India's Supreme Court ordered a floor test in Goa after the Congress moved a petition in the apex court challenging the BJP's bid for government formation in the state. Supreme Court said the floor test will be held on March 16 as it refused to stay the swearing-in of Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of the state which is due to take place today evening. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari hit back at the Congress saying, "Congress was not able to choose a leader due to their internal tussle and they are blaming us for it." "There was no horse-trading in Goa. We had a discussion with non-BJP MLAs and they had some conditions, their support was unanimous," the minister added. Our fight is against BJP's ideology, what they did in Manipur & Goa is exactly the ideology we are fighting against: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/vqoR1EiF31 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017 × During the hearing, India's highest court asked the Congress why it did not approach the governor of Goa over government formation after the Congress moved a petition challenging the appointment of BJP-led Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister. The Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Khehar observed that numbers should determine single largest party in Goa. The Congress petition had alleged that established constitutional practices were being violated by the BJP during their bid to form the government in Goa. The Congress also alleged that the BJP was involved in horse-trading to conjure up the numbers in the Goa House. #WATCH: Rahul Gandhi says, "We are in opposition,you have ups & downs, we had a little down in UP, its fine we accept that" #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/6kj43gXzA1 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017 × Manohar Parrikar is CM of Goa for two days, if BJP can't show majority they won't be allowed to form a government:Abhishek Manu Singhvi pic.twitter.com/YDhUbygZTA — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017 × India's highest court asked the Congress if it had the numbers to form the government in Goa. The BJP needs the support of 21 MLAs in the 40-member House to prove its majority, the party believes it has the support of 22 MLAs which includes the MGP and Independents. The Congress, which won 17 seats, had on Saturday emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict as the BJP won 13 seats. However, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) which had 3 seats in the Goa assembly on Sunday passed a resolution extending support to the BJP, if it formed the government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar. The BJP hopes to cobble up the numbers by convincing other parties and Independents to join the coalition and keep the Congress out of power in the coastal state of India. Meanwhile, Manohar Parrikar has said he'd comment after he is sworn-in as the chief minister. But India's finance minister Arun Jaitley, who also received the added portfolio of the defence ministry after Parrikar resigned to become the Goa CM, slammed the Congress for hindering the BJP from forming the government. In a Facebook post, Jaitley said: "The Congress Party complains a bit too much. It accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'stealing' the mandate. It unsuccessfully petitioned before the Supreme Court. It attempted to raise issues at Lok Sabha. What are the facts?" Jaitley also attributed BJP's decision to forging post-poll alliances as part of democracy, saying: "Obviously in a Hung Assembly (sic) post-poll alliances will be formed." (WION)

Manohar Parrikar takes oath as Goa chief minister

<p>The Congress staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha this morning over the issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress had earlier moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha, ANI reported.</p>

<p>The Congress Legislative Party is meeting at Congress house in Panjim, Goa today. All Congress MLAs along with Digvijaya Singh will meet the Goa governor Mridula Sinha after the meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the BJP issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members&nbsp;asking them to be present in the House&nbsp;today.</p>

<p>The bitter poll battle has entered India&#39;s highest court with the Supreme Court set to hear the Congress&#39; petition challenging the appointment of Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister even as&nbsp;Parrkikar is due to be sworn in as the chief minister today evening.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court will hear the Congress&nbsp;petition at 11am&nbsp;(Indian Standard Time) today&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Single largest party must be called to form govt, Governor has to act under constitution: Digvijay Singh, Cong <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Goa?src=hash">#Goa</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Svm3uAzqZ">pic.twitter.com/3Svm3uAzqZ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/841495709266264064">March 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>(WION with agency inputs)</p>


Government formation in Goa and Manipur is being fought on the floor of the House today

The Congress staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha this morning over the issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur. The Congress had earlier moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha, ANI reported. The Congress Legislative Party is meeting at Congress house in Panjim, Goa today. All Congress MLAs along with Digvijaya Singh will meet the Goa governor Mridula Sinha after the meeting. Meanwhile, the BJP issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members asking them to be present in the House today. The bitter poll battle has entered India's highest court with the Supreme Court set to hear the Congress' petition challenging the appointment of Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister even as Parrkikar is due to be sworn in as the chief minister today evening. The Supreme Court will hear the Congress petition at 11am (Indian Standard Time) today Single largest party must be called to form govt, Governor has to act under constitution: Digvijay Singh, Cong #Goa pic.twitter.com/3Svm3uAzqZ — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017 × (WION with agency inputs)

Congress walks out from Lok Sabha over govt formation in Goa, Manipur

<p>The Congress has approached the Supreme Court to stop Manohar Parrikar from being the next chief minister of India&#39;s western Goa state.</p>

<p>The party, which emerged as the single largest party in the assembly elections in the state, claimed&nbsp;they had&nbsp;the first right to form the government having&nbsp;won more legislative seats than the BJP.</p>

<p>The top court will hear the petition at 11 am today (March 14).<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Appealed SC that Parrikar&#39;s appt as Goa CM be quashed,SC admitted petition will be heard at 11am tomorrow: Sunil Kawthankar, Goa Cong Spox <a href="https://t.co/smo77ZcLoQ">pic.twitter.com/smo77ZcLoQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/841321718178304000">March 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP yesterday (March 13) said it had the support of 21 MLAs, the exact number needed to prove majority in the 40-member House.</p>

<p>The party&nbsp;had managed to win 13 of the 40 legislative seats, falling eight seats from securing a majority and winning four seats less than the Congress&#39;s 17.</p>

<p>But the BJP&nbsp;forged alliances with&nbsp;Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) --&nbsp;both won three seats each -- and the support of two independent candidates to outmanouvre Congress to reach the majority number.</p>

<p>Congress, which was the single-largest party with 17 seats but short of staking their claim to form the government, has cried hoarse about BJP&#39;s move, accusing them of &quot;murdering&quot; democracy.<br />
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The Congress, which until yesterday had failed to muster the numbers, today (March 13) said it has the requisite support of the legislators.<br />
<br />
The party&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;urged Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the Congress to form the next government by virtue of being the single largest party.</p>

<p>In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday night, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) claimed to have the requisite support and that they can prove the same on the floor of the House.</p>

<p>&quot;Any invitation to the BJP to form the government at this stage without first giving an opportunity to the single largest party (Congress) would mitigate against the essential democratic rights of the people of the state who have chosen the Congress as the single largest party in the state,&quot; the memorandum said.</p>

<p>&quot;Despite losing the mandate of the people, our political opponents (BJP) have tried to misrepresent to your good-self that they enjoy the majority support of legislators. This is not only opportunism at its lowest but is also not constitutionally permissible,&quot; Goa CLP Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar stated in the memorandum.<br />
<br />
The development comes a day ahead of swearing-in of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as Chief Minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parrikar, who was India&#39;s defence minister met the Governor on Sunday and staked his claim to form the government. He was appointed chief minister by the Governor the same day.</p>

<p>He has rushed to Goa for his swearing-in ceremony.</p>

<p>India&#39;s finance minister has been given the additional portfolio of defence ministry as the hitherto incumbent has been asked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s BJP to helm Goa.</p>

<p>A statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan -- the official of the President of India -- confirmed the development.</p>

<p>&quot;The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri (Mr) Manohar Parrikar, from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Arun Jaitely, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios,&rdquo; the press release stated.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I have tendered my resignation as defence minister and sent it to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO)&rdquo; Parrikar&nbsp;told PTI.The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow evening (March 14) as the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, managed to cobble up an alliance with regional outfits to stake their claim.</p>

<p>For Arun Jaitley, this is the second time he has taken over the defence ministry. He was the defence minister from May 26 to November 9, shortly after Modi swept to power in 2014.</p>

<p>Goa Governor Mridul Sinha, meanwhile, has given Parrikar 15 days&#39; time to confirm coalition support.</p>

<p>&quot;Governor Mridula Sinha has appointed Manohar Parrikar, the Leader of the Goa BJP legislature party, as the chief minister of Goa,&quot; Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Secretary to Governor stated in a press note issued on Sunday night.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>


The party claimed?they had?the first right to form the government in Goa having?won more legislative seats than the BJP

The Congress has approached the Supreme Court to stop Manohar Parrikar from being the next chief minister of India's western Goa state. The party, which emerged as the single largest party in the assembly elections in the state, claimed they had the first right to form the government having won more legislative seats than the BJP. The top court will hear the petition at 11 am today (March 14). Appealed SC that Parrikar's appt as Goa CM be quashed,SC admitted petition will be heard at 11am tomorrow: Sunil Kawthankar, Goa Cong Spox pic.twitter.com/smo77ZcLoQ — ANI (@ANI_news) March 13, 2017 × The BJP yesterday (March 13) said it had the support of 21 MLAs, the exact number needed to prove majority in the 40-member House. The party had managed to win 13 of the 40 legislative seats, falling eight seats from securing a majority and winning four seats less than the Congress's 17. But the BJP forged alliances with Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) -- both won three seats each -- and the support of two independent candidates to outmanouvre Congress to reach the majority number. Congress, which was the single-largest party with 17 seats but short of staking their claim to form the government, has cried hoarse about BJP's move, accusing them of "murdering" democracy. The Congress, which until yesterday had failed to muster the numbers, today (March 13) said it has the requisite support of the legislators. The party on Monday urged Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the Congress to form the next government by virtue of being the single largest party. In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday night, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) claimed to have the requisite support and that they can prove the same on the floor of the House. "Any invitation to the BJP to form the government at this stage without first giving an opportunity to the single largest party (Congress) would mitigate against the essential democratic rights of the people of the state who have chosen the Congress as the single largest party in the state," the memorandum said. "Despite losing the mandate of the people, our political opponents (BJP) have tried to misrepresent to your good-self that they enjoy the majority support of legislators. This is not only opportunism at its lowest but is also not constitutionally permissible," Goa CLP Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar stated in the memorandum. The development comes a day ahead of swearing-in of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as Chief Minister. Parrikar, who was India's defence minister met the Governor on Sunday and staked his claim to form the government. He was appointed chief minister by the Governor the same day. He has rushed to Goa for his swearing-in ceremony. India's finance minister has been given the additional portfolio of defence ministry as the hitherto incumbent has been asked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP to helm Goa. A statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan -- the official of the President of India -- confirmed the development. "The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri (Mr) Manohar Parrikar, from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Arun Jaitely, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios,” the press release stated. “I have tendered my resignation as defence minister and sent it to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)” Parrikar told PTI.The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow evening (March 14) as the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, managed to cobble up an alliance with regional outfits to stake their claim. For Arun Jaitley, this is the second time he has taken over the defence ministry. He was the defence minister from May 26 to November 9, shortly after Modi swept to power in 2014. Goa Governor Mridul Sinha, meanwhile, has given Parrikar 15 days' time to confirm coalition support. "Governor Mridula Sinha has appointed Manohar Parrikar, the Leader of the Goa BJP legislature party, as the chief minister of Goa," Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Secretary to Governor stated in a press note issued on Sunday night. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India: Supreme Court to hear Congress petition against BJP govt formation in Goa

<p>Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday appointed incumbent defence minister Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of the state,&nbsp;asking him&nbsp;to prove majority within 15 days after taking oath.</p>

<p>Parrikar&nbsp;met the Governor&nbsp;with letters of support and staked claim to form the government,&nbsp;outmanoeuvreing the Congress -- which had emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats in the 40-member assembly --&nbsp;in its bid for power.</p>

<p>&quot;Governor Mridula Sinha has appointed Manohar Parrikar, the Leader of the Goa BJP legislature party, as the chief minister of Goa,&quot; Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Secretary to Governor has stated in the press note issued on Sunday night.</p>

<p>Parrikar has submitted evidence before Governor, the support of 13 MLAs of BJP, three&nbsp;MLAs of Maharashtrawadi Gomkantak Party, three&nbsp;of the Goa Forward party and two independent MLAs thus having a total strength of 21 MLAs in the 40-member assembly, the note stated.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Though the lone NCP member Churchill Alemao has also backed the coalition, he is yet to submit the formal letter of support.</p>

<p>&quot;I promise that we will give stable government which will work towards the development of the state,&quot; Parriakar&nbsp;told reporters in a joint press conference with Union minister and BJP&#39;s Goa election in-charge Nitin Gadkari.</p>

<p>Nitin Gadkari clarified at the press conference that Manohar Parrikar will resign as defence minister before taking oath&nbsp;as the chief minister. He added that the BJP was forming the government in the state with &quot;like-minded parties&quot; who said they would support the party only if it was led by Manohar Parrikar.</p>

<p>&quot;When none of the parties could get absolute majority in Goa, it was obvious that we would form the government with the like-minded parties. I held meetings with MGP and Goa Forward Party who put forth the condition that they would support the party only if government is led by Manohar Parrikar,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Gadkari said the decision to send Parrikar, who was doing a &quot;tremendous good job as defence minister, back to Goa has been endorsed by BJP Parliamentary Board.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Sunday, newly-elected Goa BJP MLAs had unanimously backed&nbsp;Manohar Parrikar as the state legislature party leader, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) too said it will support a government led by Parrikar.</p>

<p>&quot;All the BJP legislators, except Milind Naik, whose brother expired yesterday, were present in the meeting held today,&quot; BJP MLA Michael Lobo told reporters outside the party headquarters here, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It was unanimously resolved to request party president Amit Shah to allow Manohar Parrikar to be elected as the legislature party leader in Goa,&quot; Lobo said.</p>

<p>&quot;We have already decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the party president. A letter would be written asking him to permit Parrikar to head our legislature wing,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The BJP&#39;s efforts to gather&nbsp;a majority to form a&nbsp;government in Goa received a boost as the MGP said it would extend support to the saffron party, if Parrikar was&nbsp;appointed as the Chief Minister.</p>

<p>&quot;MGP has already extended its support while we are in discussions with Goa Forward Party and independents,&quot; Lobo said.</p>

<p>The MGP on Sunday&nbsp;passed a resolution extending support to the BJP, if it forms government under the leadership of Parrikar.<br />
<br />
The Congress, which won 17 seats,&nbsp;had Saturday&nbsp;emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict.</p>

<p>The party today (March 13)&nbsp;accused the BJP of &quot;murdering&quot; democracy in Goa and dubbed Parrikar as &quot;villain&quot; after the saffron party stole march on it.</p>

<p>Digvijay Singh, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, accused Parrikar of indulging in &quot;horse trading and &quot;hijacking the popular mandate which was in favour of the Congress.&quot;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>


Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has asked Parrikar to prove his majority within 15 days after taking oath

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday appointed incumbent defence minister Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of the state, asking him to prove majority within 15 days after taking oath. Parrikar met the Governor with letters of support and staked claim to form the government, outmanoeuvreing the Congress -- which had emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats in the 40-member assembly -- in its bid for power. "Governor Mridula Sinha has appointed Manohar Parrikar, the Leader of the Goa BJP legislature party, as the chief minister of Goa," Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Secretary to Governor has stated in the press note issued on Sunday night. Parrikar has submitted evidence before Governor, the support of 13 MLAs of BJP, three MLAs of Maharashtrawadi Gomkantak Party, three of the Goa Forward party and two independent MLAs thus having a total strength of 21 MLAs in the 40-member assembly, the note stated. Though the lone NCP member Churchill Alemao has also backed the coalition, he is yet to submit the formal letter of support. "I promise that we will give stable government which will work towards the development of the state," Parriakar told reporters in a joint press conference with Union minister and BJP's Goa election in-charge Nitin Gadkari. Nitin Gadkari clarified at the press conference that Manohar Parrikar will resign as defence minister before taking oath as the chief minister. He added that the BJP was forming the government in the state with "like-minded parties" who said they would support the party only if it was led by Manohar Parrikar. "When none of the parties could get absolute majority in Goa, it was obvious that we would form the government with the like-minded parties. I held meetings with MGP and Goa Forward Party who put forth the condition that they would support the party only if government is led by Manohar Parrikar," he said. Gadkari said the decision to send Parrikar, who was doing a "tremendous good job as defence minister, back to Goa has been endorsed by BJP Parliamentary Board. Earlier on Sunday, newly-elected Goa BJP MLAs had unanimously backed Manohar Parrikar as the state legislature party leader, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) too said it will support a government led by Parrikar. "All the BJP legislators, except Milind Naik, whose brother expired yesterday, were present in the meeting held today," BJP MLA Michael Lobo told reporters outside the party headquarters here, news agency PTI reported. "It was unanimously resolved to request party president Amit Shah to allow Manohar Parrikar to be elected as the legislature party leader in Goa," Lobo said. "We have already decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the party president. A letter would be written asking him to permit Parrikar to head our legislature wing," he said. The BJP's efforts to gather a majority to form a government in Goa received a boost as the MGP said it would extend support to the saffron party, if Parrikar was appointed as the Chief Minister. "MGP has already extended its support while we are in discussions with Goa Forward Party and independents," Lobo said. The MGP on Sunday passed a resolution extending support to the BJP, if it forms government under the leadership of Parrikar. The Congress, which won 17 seats, had Saturday emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict. The party today (March 13) accused the BJP of "murdering" democracy in Goa and dubbed Parrikar as "villain" after the saffron party stole march on it. Digvijay Singh, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, accused Parrikar of indulging in "horse trading and "hijacking the popular mandate which was in favour of the Congress." (WION with inputs from PTI)

Manohar Parrikar stakes claim to form government in Goa, appointed chief minister

<p>West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised India&#39;s defence minister Manohar Parrikar for saying her opposition to the deployment of the army at the state&#39;s toll plazas would &quot;adversely&quot; impact the morale of the armed forces.</p>

<p>In a strongly-worded letter today, Mamata said her complaint was not against the army but against the federal government under whose directions the army had acted. She also maintained that the defence ministry had not taken the permission of the state government for &quot;large deployment of army personnel in civilian areas&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;My complaint was not against the army. It was against your government and the government policy, as they act under your directions. We have great respect for their nationalism and professionalism,&quot; Mamata said in her letter to Parrikar.</p>

<p>&quot;On earlier occasions, such exercise was done in joint coordination with the state government and we used to provide full cooperation. But this time unfortunately, the ministry of defence had made a departure...You will appreciate that toll plaza data is readily available with the National Highway Authority of India and other agencies and exercise could have been avoided,&quot; Banerjee said.</p>

<p>Parrikar had earlier written to Banerjee expressing his pain over dragging the army into a controversy.</p>

<p>In his letter, Parrikar asserted that the army authorities were forced to put the record straight in the matter, by presenting evidence of their communication with the concerned state agencies, including rescheduling of the data collection operation, on their request.</p>

<p>He also stated that while political parties and politicians had the luxury of making &quot;wild and unsubstantiated allegations&quot; against each other, one needed to be extremely careful while referring to the armed forces.</p>

<p>The chief minister hit back, stating this&nbsp;applied to his party, and not hers.</p>

<p>&quot;I take strong exception to your wild assertion that my articulation of the rights of the state government vis-a-vis army deployment without clearance has impacted the morale of the armed forces. Your general observations about political parties and politicians to have the luxury of making wild and unsubstantiated allegations may be apt for your party, but we do not belong to that group,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>She said that in her long political and administrative life, she had &quot;never seen such political vendetta by misusing the role of an esteemed organisation&quot;.</p>

<p>The chief minister also claimed that Parrikar in his letter &quot;chose to convey the laughable idea that you are the sole spokesperson on behalf of the people at large&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t think that it behoves a minister of the union government to pass near defamatory remarks on a chief minister of any state and I trust that you will rectify this attitude,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>She also expressed surprise on how the defence minister&#39;s letter was flashed on the electronic media hours before it reached her.</p>

<p>The chief minister also said the central government did not pay heed to the Kolkata Police&#39;s objection to any exercise within 200 metres of the State Secretariat, which is a high-security zone.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Mamata maintained the defence ministry had not taken the state government's permission for deployment of the army in the state's toll plazas

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar for saying her opposition to the deployment of the army at the state's toll plazas would "adversely" impact the morale of the armed forces. In a strongly-worded letter today, Mamata said her complaint was not against the army but against the federal government under whose directions the army had acted. She also maintained that the defence ministry had not taken the permission of the state government for "large deployment of army personnel in civilian areas". "My complaint was not against the army. It was against your government and the government policy, as they act under your directions. We have great respect for their nationalism and professionalism," Mamata said in her letter to Parrikar. "On earlier occasions, such exercise was done in joint coordination with the state government and we used to provide full cooperation. But this time unfortunately, the ministry of defence had made a departure...You will appreciate that toll plaza data is readily available with the National Highway Authority of India and other agencies and exercise could have been avoided," Banerjee said. Parrikar had earlier written to Banerjee expressing his pain over dragging the army into a controversy. In his letter, Parrikar asserted that the army authorities were forced to put the record straight in the matter, by presenting evidence of their communication with the concerned state agencies, including rescheduling of the data collection operation, on their request. He also stated that while political parties and politicians had the luxury of making "wild and unsubstantiated allegations" against each other, one needed to be extremely careful while referring to the armed forces. The chief minister hit back, stating this applied to his party, and not hers. "I take strong exception to your wild assertion that my articulation of the rights of the state government vis-a-vis army deployment without clearance has impacted the morale of the armed forces. Your general observations about political parties and politicians to have the luxury of making wild and unsubstantiated allegations may be apt for your party, but we do not belong to that group," she said. She said that in her long political and administrative life, she had "never seen such political vendetta by misusing the role of an esteemed organisation". The chief minister also claimed that Parrikar in his letter "chose to convey the laughable idea that you are the sole spokesperson on behalf of the people at large". "I don't think that it behoves a minister of the union government to pass near defamatory remarks on a chief minister of any state and I trust that you will rectify this attitude," she said. She also expressed surprise on how the defence minister's letter was flashed on the electronic media hours before it reached her. The chief minister also said the central government did not pay heed to the Kolkata Police's objection to any exercise within 200 metres of the State Secretariat, which is a high-security zone. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Complaint against government not Indian Army: Mamata's word war with defence minister

<p>Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday commissioned the INS Chennai, the country&#39;s third indigenously-designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, news agency Press Trust of India reported.</p>

<p>The ship was constructed by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai.</p>

<p>&#39;INS Chennai&#39; is one of the largest destroyers constructed in India and at 164 metres in length and with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes, the ship is also one of the largest in the Indian fleet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Armed with supersonic surface to surface &#39;BrahMos&#39; missiles and &#39;Barak-8&#39; long-range surface to air missiles, the ship possesses formidable missile technology prowess.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ship is designed to carry and operate up to two multi-role helicopters.</p>

<p>The ship is going to be assigned to the western fleet after completion of some additional trials of systems deployed on it, PTI reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Western Naval Command.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>


With a displacement of over 7,500 tons, the Chennai is one of the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy's fleet

Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday commissioned the INS Chennai, the country's third indigenously-designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, news agency Press Trust of India reported. The ship was constructed by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. 'INS Chennai' is one of the largest destroyers constructed in India and at 164 metres in length and with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes, the ship is also one of the largest in the Indian fleet. Armed with supersonic surface to surface 'BrahMos' missiles and 'Barak-8' long-range surface to air missiles, the ship possesses formidable missile technology prowess. The ship is designed to carry and operate up to two multi-role helicopters. The ship is going to be assigned to the western fleet after completion of some additional trials of systems deployed on it, PTI reports. INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Western Naval Command. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India: Defence minister Parrikar commissions new warship INS Chennai

<p>Questioning the country&#39;s&nbsp;no first-use nuclear policy, the Indian Express reported, India&#39;s defence minister Manohar Parrikar stoked fresh controversy Thursday.</p>

<p>But Parrikar later clarified that&nbsp;&quot;this is my thinking&quot; and that the nuclear doctrine &quot;has not changed&quot; under any government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parrikar was speaking at the launch of Brigadier (retd) Gurmeet Kanwal&#39;s book, The New Arthashastra, in New Delhi, when he said:&nbsp;&ldquo;Why a lot of people say that India has No First-Use policy. Why should I bind myself to a&hellip; I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my thinking. Some of them may immediately tomorrow flash that Parrikar says that nuclear doctrine has changed. It has not changed in any government policy but my concept, I am also an individual. And as an individual, I get a feeling sometime why do I say that I am not going to use it first. I am not saying that you have to use it first just because you don&rsquo;t decide that you don&rsquo;t use it first. The hoax can be called off.&rdquo;</p>

<p>A spokesperson for the defence ministry, however, later clarified that the minister was voicing a personal opinion and not that of the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party had promised, in its manifesto for the 2014 elections, to &quot;study in detail India&rsquo;s nuclear doctrine, and revise and update it, to make it relevant to challenges of current times&quot;.</p>

<p>The Indian Express reported: &quot;India&rsquo;s NFU policy is part of its nuclear doctrine. Under the doctrine, India has a policy of credible minimum deterrence based on a &lsquo;No First Use&rsquo; posture and non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states. This means that India won&rsquo;t be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. In contrast, Pakistan does not have an NFU policy for its nuclear arsenal.&quot;</p>

<p>It added: &quot;India has always held its commitment to NFU policy as proof of it being a responsible nuclear power. In April, when US President Barack Obama suggested that India and Pakistan reduce their nuclear arsenal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said: &#39;There seems to be a lack of understanding of India&rsquo;s defence posture. Conventionally, India has never initiated military action against any neighbour. We also have a no-first use nuclear weapons policy.&#39;&quot;</p>

<p>Those critical of India&#39;s no first-use policy argue that the increasing stockpile of Pakistani nuclear weapons and China&#39;s expansionist designs in the region warrant a change in the doctrine, the Indian Express said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that George Fernandes, a former defence minister of the country, had in 2003 ruled out the possibility of any change in India&#39;s nuclear doctrine. And that in 2011, BJP leader Jaswant Singh had asked that the NFU policy be repealed, but the UPA government which preceded the current dispensation decided against doing so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian Express reported that In response to Parrikar&#39;s remarks, the Congress party&#39;s communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala said: &quot;&ldquo;Defence minister Parrikar has no business or authority to speak in personal capacity at a public function. He reflects the thrust and intent of India&rsquo;s national security policy. If India&rsquo;s policy on NFU has to be changed, it must be decided after deliberation with the government and stated publicly. Casual, immature and off-the-cuff remarks by India&rsquo;s Defence Minister, for which he has become famous, are not in India&rsquo;s interest.&rdquo;</p>

<p>And that CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: &ldquo;This is a most irresponsible comment coming from the Defence Minister. It runs against India&rsquo;s ethos of seeking a nuclear-free world. When a minister speaks, it has to be the considered opinion of the government. This statement would be taken indignantly by the rest of the world and hurt India&rsquo;s interests globally</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


But he later clarified that?'this is my thinking' and that the nuclear doctrine 'has not changed' under any government

Questioning the country's no first-use nuclear policy, the Indian Express reported, India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar stoked fresh controversy Thursday. But Parrikar later clarified that "this is my thinking" and that the nuclear doctrine "has not changed" under any government. Parrikar was speaking at the launch of Brigadier (retd) Gurmeet Kanwal's book, The New Arthashastra, in New Delhi, when he said: “Why a lot of people say that India has No First-Use policy. Why should I bind myself to a… I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my thinking. Some of them may immediately tomorrow flash that Parrikar says that nuclear doctrine has changed. It has not changed in any government policy but my concept, I am also an individual. And as an individual, I get a feeling sometime why do I say that I am not going to use it first. I am not saying that you have to use it first just because you don’t decide that you don’t use it first. The hoax can be called off.” A spokesperson for the defence ministry, however, later clarified that the minister was voicing a personal opinion and not that of the government. India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party had promised, in its manifesto for the 2014 elections, to "study in detail India’s nuclear doctrine, and revise and update it, to make it relevant to challenges of current times". The Indian Express reported: "India’s NFU policy is part of its nuclear doctrine. Under the doctrine, India has a policy of credible minimum deterrence based on a ‘No First Use’ posture and non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states. This means that India won’t be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. In contrast, Pakistan does not have an NFU policy for its nuclear arsenal." It added: "India has always held its commitment to NFU policy as proof of it being a responsible nuclear power. In April, when US President Barack Obama suggested that India and Pakistan reduce their nuclear arsenal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said: 'There seems to be a lack of understanding of India’s defence posture. Conventionally, India has never initiated military action against any neighbour. We also have a no-first use nuclear weapons policy.'" Those critical of India's no first-use policy argue that the increasing stockpile of Pakistani nuclear weapons and China's expansionist designs in the region warrant a change in the doctrine, the Indian Express said. It added that George Fernandes, a former defence minister of the country, had in 2003 ruled out the possibility of any change in India's nuclear doctrine. And that in 2011, BJP leader Jaswant Singh had asked that the NFU policy be repealed, but the UPA government which preceded the current dispensation decided against doing so. The Indian Express reported that In response to Parrikar's remarks, the Congress party's communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala said: "“Defence minister Parrikar has no business or authority to speak in personal capacity at a public function. He reflects the thrust and intent of India’s national security policy. If India’s policy on NFU has to be changed, it must be decided after deliberation with the government and stated publicly. Casual, immature and off-the-cuff remarks by India’s Defence Minister, for which he has become famous, are not in India’s interest.” And that CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “This is a most irresponsible comment coming from the Defence Minister. It runs against India’s ethos of seeking a nuclear-free world. When a minister speaks, it has to be the considered opinion of the government. This statement would be taken indignantly by the rest of the world and hurt India’s interests globally (WION)

India's defence minister questions country's nuclear no first-use policy, stokes controversy

<p>Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday is understood to have differed with the claims of defence minister Manohar Parrikar on the &quot;surgical strikes&quot;&nbsp;carried out by the Indian Army&#39;s special forces across the LoC on September 29 to demolish terror camps.</p>

<p>Briefing the parliamentary panel on external affairs, the foreign secretary was quoted by MPs as saying &quot;the army had carried out target-specific, limited-calibre, counter-terrorist operations across the LoC in the past too but this is for the first time the government has gone public about it.&quot;</p>

<p>The comments assume significance as the defence minister last week rejected the Congress party&#39;s claims that &quot;surgical strikes&quot; were undertaken during their tenure too. Many former military officials had described the past actions as &quot;covert operations&quot;, but agreed with Parrikar that &quot;surgical strikes&quot; were undertaken for the first time.</p>

<p>The foreign secretary also told the panel that while India has been engaging with Pakistan post the September 29 &quot;surgical strikes&quot;, no &quot;calendar&quot; has so far been prepared regarding future engagement and its level with Islamabad, members said on condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>Replying to a question, he said people-to-people contact would continue and there was no plan to stop it.</p>

<p>During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat also gave details of the strikes targeting militant launch&nbsp;pads across the LoC. They told the panel that the strikes have fulfilled their purpose as of now. When a Congress member wanted to know whether similar operations could be carried out in the future as well, the government&#39;s representatives said the strikes have caused a nagging doubt in the Pakistani establishment as to whether India will carry out similar operations in the future.</p>

<p>When asked about the casualties&nbsp;they could inflict on the militants, the officials said the army would cross the LoC to carry out strikes and not to collect evidence.</p>

<p>Jaishankar sought to skirt the issue of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan stating that it did not witness any action along the LoC at the time the &quot;surgical strikes&quot; took place. He said since panel chairman Shashi Tharoor had been associated with the body, he would not like to say anything.</p>

<p>During the meeting, there was a brief exchange of words between a BJP and a Left party member when the former raised the issue of security of MPs after the strikes. Some members said the topic of the meeting was national security and not individual security.</p>

<p>Defence secretary G Mohan Kumar and K K Sharma,&nbsp;director general of the&nbsp;Border Security Force,&nbsp;were also present at the meeting,&nbsp;besides the foreign secretary and the vice chief of army staff.</p>

<p>(WION, this story first appeared in DNA)</p>


The minister had last week rejected the Opposition Congress' claim that similar strikes had been ordered during its tenure too

Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday is understood to have differed with the claims of defence minister Manohar Parrikar on the "surgical strikes" carried out by the Indian Army's special forces across the LoC on September 29 to demolish terror camps. Briefing the parliamentary panel on external affairs, the foreign secretary was quoted by MPs as saying "the army had carried out target-specific, limited-calibre, counter-terrorist operations across the LoC in the past too but this is for the first time the government has gone public about it." The comments assume significance as the defence minister last week rejected the Congress party's claims that "surgical strikes" were undertaken during their tenure too. Many former military officials had described the past actions as "covert operations", but agreed with Parrikar that "surgical strikes" were undertaken for the first time. The foreign secretary also told the panel that while India has been engaging with Pakistan post the September 29 "surgical strikes", no "calendar" has so far been prepared regarding future engagement and its level with Islamabad, members said on condition of anonymity. Replying to a question, he said people-to-people contact would continue and there was no plan to stop it. During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat also gave details of the strikes targeting militant launch pads across the LoC. They told the panel that the strikes have fulfilled their purpose as of now. When a Congress member wanted to know whether similar operations could be carried out in the future as well, the government's representatives said the strikes have caused a nagging doubt in the Pakistani establishment as to whether India will carry out similar operations in the future. When asked about the casualties they could inflict on the militants, the officials said the army would cross the LoC to carry out strikes and not to collect evidence. Jaishankar sought to skirt the issue of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan stating that it did not witness any action along the LoC at the time the "surgical strikes" took place. He said since panel chairman Shashi Tharoor had been associated with the body, he would not like to say anything. During the meeting, there was a brief exchange of words between a BJP and a Left party member when the former raised the issue of security of MPs after the strikes. Some members said the topic of the meeting was national security and not individual security. Defence secretary G Mohan Kumar and K K Sharma, director general of the Border Security Force, were also present at the meeting, besides the foreign secretary and the vice chief of army staff. (WION, this story first appeared in DNA)

India: Foreign secretary differs with defence minister, says 'surgical strikes' were carried out in the past too

India inked a 7.8 billion Euro ($8.7 billion) deal with France today to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets, in what is being viewed as country&#39;s first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades.<br />
<br />
France&#39;s defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian inked the agreement with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;You can only ever be completely sure once (the deal) has been signed and that&#39;s what happened today,&quot; Le Drian was quoted as saying by AFP after the ceremony, referring to almost 18 months of wrangling over financial terms between New Delhi and Dassault Aviation, the jet&#39;s manufacturer.<br />
<br />
The deal is likely to give a boost to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s plan to rebuild an ageing fleet of Indian Airforce (IAF).&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The IAF is down to 33 squadrons, against its requirement of 45 to face both China and nuclear-armed rival Pakistan, international news agency Reuters observed.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the deal was also hailed by French President Francois Hollande as recognition of France`s aviation industry.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;The agreement... is a mark of the recognition by a major military power of the operational performance, the technical quality and the competitiveness of the French aviation industry,&quot; he said in a statement, according to AFP.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The French jet manufacturer, as per the news agency, had long struggled to find buyers overseas, despite heavy lobbying efforts by the President&#39;s administration.<br />
<br />
One of the biggest defence deals in decades, the agreeement comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros, following hard negotiations by the Indian side, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Mooted by the former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2012, the deal was earlier scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause, PTI reports.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The 50 per cent offset clause means that Indian businesses, both big and small, will gain work to the tune of over three billion Euros.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The deal is likely to give a boost to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet of Indian Airforce

India inked a 7.8 billion Euro ($8.7 billion) deal with France today to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets, in what is being viewed as country's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades. France's defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian inked the agreement with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi. "You can only ever be completely sure once (the deal) has been signed and that's what happened today," Le Drian was quoted as saying by AFP after the ceremony, referring to almost 18 months of wrangling over financial terms between New Delhi and Dassault Aviation, the jet's manufacturer. The deal is likely to give a boost to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet of Indian Airforce (IAF). The IAF is down to 33 squadrons, against its requirement of 45 to face both China and nuclear-armed rival Pakistan, international news agency Reuters observed. Meanwhile, the deal was also hailed by French President Francois Hollande as recognition of France`s aviation industry. "The agreement... is a mark of the recognition by a major military power of the operational performance, the technical quality and the competitiveness of the French aviation industry," he said in a statement, according to AFP. The French jet manufacturer, as per the news agency, had long struggled to find buyers overseas, despite heavy lobbying efforts by the President's administration. One of the biggest defence deals in decades, the agreeement comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros, following hard negotiations by the Indian side, Indian news agency PTI reported. Mooted by the former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2012, the deal was earlier scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause, PTI reports. The 50 per cent offset clause means that Indian businesses, both big and small, will gain work to the tune of over three billion Euros. (WION with inputs from agencies)

India, France ink 7.87-billion Euro deal for 36 Rafale fighter jet planes

India&#39;s defence ministry has written to the central bureau of investigation seeking a probe into the $208-million Embraer aircraft deal that has come under cloud over alleged graft, Indian news agency PTI reported today.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The deal was inked in 2008 under the tenure of former United Progressive Alliance &nbsp;(UPA) government between Brazilian company, Embraer, and the DRDO for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&amp;C (airborne early warning and control systems).<br />
<br />
Defence Research and Development Organization, the research and development wing of the defence ministry, chief on Monday briefed Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The DRDO has already approached the Brazilian company Embraer for an explanation over media reports suggesting the firm had hired an Indian middlemen based in the United Kingdom to get the deal through in 2008.<br />
<br />
&quot;I am not going to give a knee jerk reaction and just make a statement based on rumours. I have asked for a report which will be submitted on Monday, and if the issues are of a criminal nature, then we can forward this case to the CBI for a criminal investigation and if there are just procedural issues then we can do an internal investigation,&quot; Parrikar was quoted as saying by media.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Embraer has been under investigation by the United States Justice Department since 2010 when a contract with the Dominican Republic raised the Americans&#39; suspicions.<br />
<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The $208-million aircraft deal inked in 2008 has come under cloud over alleged graft

India's defence ministry has written to the central bureau of investigation seeking a probe into the $208-million Embraer aircraft deal that has come under cloud over alleged graft, Indian news agency PTI reported today. The deal was inked in 2008 under the tenure of former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government between Brazilian company, Embraer, and the DRDO for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&C (airborne early warning and control systems). Defence Research and Development Organization, the research and development wing of the defence ministry, chief on Monday briefed Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The DRDO has already approached the Brazilian company Embraer for an explanation over media reports suggesting the firm had hired an Indian middlemen based in the United Kingdom to get the deal through in 2008. "I am not going to give a knee jerk reaction and just make a statement based on rumours. I have asked for a report which will be submitted on Monday, and if the issues are of a criminal nature, then we can forward this case to the CBI for a criminal investigation and if there are just procedural issues then we can do an internal investigation," Parrikar was quoted as saying by media. Embraer has been under investigation by the United States Justice Department since 2010 when a contract with the Dominican Republic raised the Americans' suspicions. (WION with inputs from agencies)

India's defence ministry writes to central bureau of investigation over Embraer deal

<p>France is working closely with India on the Scorpene document leak case, said French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler on Wednesday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;The French authorities are taking the matter very very seriously. We are working on it very seriously with DCNS, with the (unclear). And we are trying to access the extent, the nature, the sensitivity of information of.. may have been leaked. And we will work in this very very close cooperation and full transparency with the Indian authorities,&quot; said Ziegler in southern Bengaluru city.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, French naval contractor DCNS has also said it may have been the victim of &quot;economic warfare&quot; after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked.<br />
<br />
<strong>&#39;Investigating the impact&#39;&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
An investigation has been launched by India after The Australian newspaper reported a leak of more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret capabilities of six submarines that French builder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy.<br />
<br />
The submarines are being built, for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion according to media reports, at a state-run shipyard in western&nbsp;Mumbai and the first one was expected to join service by the end of the year, the first step in the navy&#39;s effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet.<br />
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&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a major gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.</h5>
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<p>The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS&#39;s submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines.<br />
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The breadth of detail in the documents creates a major strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters.<br />
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The Indian defence ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad.&nbsp;<br />
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India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a major gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.<br />
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<strong>Leak comes against difficult </strong><strong>commerical</strong><strong> backdrop: DCNS backdrop&nbsp;</strong><br />
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DCNS, which is 35 per cent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan.<br />
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Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame.<br />
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<h5>Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context,&quot; a spokesman said and added, &quot;There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS.&quot;</h5>
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&quot;Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context,&quot; she said. &quot;There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It&#39;s part of the tools in economic warfare.&quot;<br />
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DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany&#39;s ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia.<br />
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That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#39;s push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda.<br />
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Thales, whose shares fell 3 per cent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment.<br />
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French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment.<br />
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(WION with inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;</p>


The $3.5 submarine data leak has pushed India to launch an investigation. Indian defence ministry claims that the leak occurred from abroad

France is working closely with India on the Scorpene document leak case, said French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler on Wednesday. "The French authorities are taking the matter very very seriously. We are working on it very seriously with DCNS, with the (unclear). And we are trying to access the extent, the nature, the sensitivity of information of.. may have been leaked. And we will work in this very very close cooperation and full transparency with the Indian authorities," said Ziegler in southern Bengaluru city. Meanwhile, French naval contractor DCNS has also said it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. 'Investigating the impact' An investigation has been launched by India after The Australian newspaper reported a leak of more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret capabilities of six submarines that French builder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. The submarines are being built, for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion according to media reports, at a state-run shipyard in western Mumbai and the first one was expected to join service by the end of the year, the first step in the navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a major gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. The breadth of detail in the documents creates a major strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. The Indian defence ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a major gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Leak comes against difficult commerical backdrop: DCNS backdrop DCNS, which is 35 per cent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," a spokesman said and added, "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS." "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. Thales, whose shares fell 3 per cent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

France assures India support on Scorpene document leak, naval contractor DCNS suspects 'economic warfare'

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