India
A major showdown was witnessed between BJP activists and journalists this morning after a formal press briefing by state leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
Updated : Sep 21, 2010, 02:52 PM IST
A major showdown was witnessed between BJP activists and journalists this morning after a formal press briefing by state leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
The confusion began when Parrikar dodged questions on the involvement of state education minister Atanasio Monserratte in controlling the corporation of Panaji city.
The press briefing was held in BJP's state headquarters here.
The BJP activists were reportedly perturbed when their leader refused to corner Monserratte, a minister considered as a major BJP rival.
The state education minister, who had aligned with BJP government and later toppled it in 2005, has now joined the
Congress.
The leader of Opposition, who addressed a press conference to blame corrupt ruling corporators for ruining Panaji, refused to name Monserratte, who is known to be the mentor of the ruling group.
"I will name the person behind the group at appropriate time," Parrikar, the former chief minister, said.
The BJP leader kept on refusing to name Monserratte till the end of the conference, which was held in the run up to the elections for the corporation of Panaji city, scheduled eight months from now.
As the press conference ended, two of BJP's prominent leaders, Siddharth Cuncolienkar and Sandip Kundaikar, accused media of "not daring to question Monserratte about his ill deeds."
"You should have asked straight question to Parrikar forcing him to name Monserratte," Cuncolienkar said.
The heated arguments continued till Parrikar intervened in the matter.