Manohar Parrikar rubbishes charges of leaking info from PAC report

Refuting the charges that he had leaked information from the report on illegal mining in Goa before it is being tabled in the assembly, chairman of the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Manohar Parrikar today clarified that the report itself is yet to be finalised.

"How can I leak the report even before it is prepared? We are yet to finalise the report," Parrikar said reacting to the complaint lodged against him with the Assembly speaker by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.

"Whatever figures I have been speaking about are from the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report, based on which, PAC is investigating into illegal mining," Parrikar said.

"We can always discuss CAG figures, as it is a public document, which was placed in the state legislative assembly," Parrikar, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, said.

Yesterday, Vishwajit Rane had lodged a complaint with the Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane, against the PAC chief, accusing him of leaking the information from the report.

However, Parrikar said that he has not received any notice from the Speaker in this matter.

The Health Minister had said that Parrikar was misusing PAC for his political interests.

The PAC report, which is expected to throw light on the major illegal iron ore scam in the state, will be ready by October 4 and would be placed on October 5, on the first day of the assembly.