Parrikar cannot sign files fearing secondary infection, says RTI reply
Panaji, May 5: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer in a US hospital, cannot sign government files due to risk of infection, a RTI petitioner said, citing official documents.
City businessman Kenneth Silveira, who obtained the February 28 memo signed by Parrikar through the Right to Information Act, has now filed a complaint with the Goa Police's Crime Branch claiming signing of government correspondence and notings by Secretaries to the Chief Minister's Office instead of Parrikar, who is medically unfit to hold office, was illegal, and requesting a probe.
The February 28 memo, released to the media during a press conference here on Saturday, has Parrikar say: "I have been advised by the doctors treating me to avoid physical contact with files for the time being on account of possibility of secondary infection as part of ongoing treatment.
"I have therefore authorised principal secretary to the Chief Minister and in his absence Secretary to the Chief Minister to record my decisions/directions on the government correspondence including files/notes and append his signature for disposal of the same till further orders."
In his complaint to the Crime Branch, Silveira, who was arrested last month for uploading up a false Facebook post hinting at the Chief Minister's death, has also said it was illegal for government files to be endorsed by representatives designated by the Chief Minister, especially when the latter was "unfit" to hold office.
"The Crime Branch should probe as to how government business, especially which passes through the CMO can be legally allowed to happen, when the files are not endorsed by Parrikar, but his secretaries," he told reporters after filing his complaint.
While Crime Branch officials have acknowledged the receipt of the complaint, CMO sources said, that the current arrangement was legal in every way, although of a temporary nature.
"The Secretaries mentioned in the Chief Minister's note have been authorised by the Chief Minister to sign on government correspondence in his behalf. This is a temporary arrangement only, until Parrikar returns," a CMO official said, on condition of anonymity.
Parrikar, who was first hospitalised in a local medical facility on February 15 for stomach pain, was rushed to a New York-based health facility last month.
While there is no official confirmation of the severity of his ailment, both from the local BJP unit as well as the CMO, the latter through informal statements released to the media, has maintained that Parrikar is suffering from "mild pancreatitis".
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Modi, Kharge congratulate Harivansh on being elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Harivansh on being elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for the third time.
Harivansh, a nominated member of the House, was elected unopposed.
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated Harivansh.
Speaking in the Upper House, Prime Minister Modi said that being elected for the third time in a row as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is, in itself, a profound expression of the trust that the House has in Harivansh.
Modi said the House has benefited greatly from Harivansh's experience in the past, and the efforts he has made to take everyone along.
"This is a tribute to his experience and an intuitive work style," the prime minister said.
Modi also said that Harivansh, who has been a journalist earlier, has held high standards of journalism. He further said that Harivansh has spent his MP LAD (local area development) funds for research projects at various universities.
The prime minister also lauded the contribution of Harivansh in instilling confidence among the younger generation in achieving the goal of a developed India.
Kharge expressed hope that the Deputy Chairman will take care of the opposition and give them adequate time in the House.
The Congress leader further said he was pained by the fact that the post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha has been vacant since 2019, which is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
Earlier, the Samajwadi Party and TMC staged a walkout when the motion to elect Harivansh was being adopted.
