Two ministers inducted in BJP-led Goa cabinet
Panaji, Sep 24 : BJP MLAs Milind Naik, a former Power Minister, and Nilesh Cabral were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the BJP-led cabinet in Goa even as ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar dropped two ministers who have been hospitalized for severe ailments.
The two Ministers were administered the oath of secrecy by Governor Mridula Sinha at a formal function at the Raj Bhavan on Monday evening.
While Naik has served as a Power Minister in a previous BJP-led coalition government under then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, a two-time MLA has been sworn in as Minister for the first time.
Both Ministers said they had been informed by Parrikar by phone on Monday morning that they had been shortlisted for ministership.
When Cabral was asked that two of their colleagues had been sacked to make way for the two cabinet berths, the newly inducted Minister said: "It is not my responsibility that my colleague has been dropped and I have been made Minister. That is the CM's responsibility. Tomorrow they may drop me too... What is the big deal?"
Naik and Cabral have replaced Urban Development Minister Francis D'Souza and Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar.
Reacting to the development, D'Souza, who is being treated for cancer at a New York hospital, told IANS over the phone: "I am happy with the decision. This is the fruit of working for the party for 20 long years. I have been ill for only one month."
Madkaikar is being treated in Mumbai since June when he suffered a brain stroke.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Sunday had hinted at a ministerial rejig in a tweet, which also said that Parrikar, who is being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences would, however, continue as Chief Minister.
Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and now Delhi for the last seven months.
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Jharkhand: 6 arrested for kidnapping Bengal businessman, associate
Khunti (PTI): Six persons have been arrested for allegedly abducting a West Bengal-based businessman and his associate in Jharkhand's Khunti district and demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Friday in Tilmi area under the jurisdiction of Jariyagarh police station. Upon receiving information, police rescued both victims, they said.
Torpa Sub-divisional Police Officer Christopher Kerketta said, "We have rescued both the victims and arrested six people for their alleged involvement in the crime."
The businessman, identified as Haru Mukherjee (65), had come to the house of his associate, Vijay Oraon (40), to recruit labourers for work at a brick kiln.
The accused hail from different parts of Khunti, and police also seized a four-wheeler, three motorcycles, and five mobile phones from their possession, the officer said, adding an FIR has also been registered and further investigation is underway.
