Manohar Parrikar may be a frustrated defence minister: Congress

Congress on Monday launched a broadside against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the wake of a flutter caused by his reported remarks that he is planning to retire from politics after turning 60 next month.

"Parrikar might be feeling frustrated in Defence ministry as he has no effective role to play, except to act as a postman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet," Congress leader Shantaram Naik said. Naik's comments came after some media reports had quoted Parrikar as saying that the Defence Minister is planning to hang his boots as he will turn 60 on December 13.

However, Parrikar on Monday clarified that he has no plans of retiring soon and that he will go back to Goa only after completing the task given by PM Modi.

"... Parrikar is addicted to power and he will leave no stone unturned to grab power in Goa. When he joined Defence Ministry, he had virtually ran away from his responsibilities. He could not solve mining issue, the issue of Regional Plan or the casino problem in Goa and had left the state bankrupt," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

Naik alleged that Parrikar, as a defence minister, could not help in getting a few acres of land, illegally occupied during the liberation of Goa, from his ministry for the use of Airport Authority in Goa.

"On the contrary, Parrikar played a negative role in agreeing to give around 250 acres of precious land in Naqueri village in Goa for holding defence exhibition next year, on a permanent basis (sic)," Naik alleged in the statement.