Panaji: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has made it clear that the party would not support BJP in Goa post elections nor would it compromise on secularism. Speaking to reporters at a hotel in the city yesterday, he said, 'I do not feel that BJP will win with majority in 2017 Goa Assembly elections. We are clear that we will not associate with BJP.' He said if the party got an opportunity to form a coalition government then it would support secular forces.
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement made in a public rally on January 28 last wherein he urged the people to vote out Congress, the former union minister said in a parliamentary set up one should not expect to finish others totally. 'There may be differences of opinion and views but one should not target to finish secular forces,' he said. 'If anybody who is occupying such a high position in the country is making statements that I want to finish someone, we don't believe in that.
We have certain issues and differences with Congress party but we do not say that Congress has not done anything in this country right from indepence. We have differences but those differences we are not taking to that level to finish anybody. Holding Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar responsible for ban on mining in the state as state chief minister in 2012, he said, 'Mining ban imposed by government led by Parrikar has affected a sizeable population in Goa.'
He said the party MPs would raise issues related to mining in the Parliament so that those affected due to it in Goa could get relief. The senior leader said that the party was taking the election as an opportunity to create awareness about impact of mining ban and demonetisation among people in Goa. The party has fielded its candidates in 16 constituencies. Assembly elections in Goa are to be held on February 4. (UNI
