Panaji: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar should stop playing a ‘shadow’ chief minister of Goa and fully focus on his new role as the minister of a sensitive central portfolio, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Sunday.
Parrikar’s constant presence in Goa despite his elevation as defence minister indicated that the former chief minister may have been absorbed in the union ministry against his wishes, Digvijaya Singh told at the end of a state Congress ‘chintan baithak’ (discussion meet) here, reports IANS. “The fact that he is coming to Goa all the time could mean that he was taken to New Delhi against his wishes,” Digvijay Singh said. “Parrikar should not act like a ‘shadow’ CM. He has got the responsibility of defence minister, he should focus on the defence ministry,” he said.
Parrikar has been criticised on the social media as well as by the opposition in Goa for spending several days a week in the state, ever since he was elevated as the defence minister.