Cong seeks Parrikar's response to Cabral's statement on mining

The Congress has asked ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to respond to his cabinet colleague Nilesh Cabral's statement that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on illegal mining was a "political stunt".

In 2012, Parrikar who was then the Leader of Opposition, chaired the PAC constituted by the Goa Assembly on mining. A report submitted by the PAC had pointed out irregularities in the mining industry, after which the Supreme Court appointed M B Shah Commission to conduct inquiry.

The report had also named the then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat as one of the accused in illegal mining that took place between 2005 and 2012.

Talking to reporters in Goa on Wednesday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary A Chellakuar asked Parrikar to come clean on the findings of the report.

Cabral, who is a BJP MLA and state Power Minister, had recently said during a TV debate that the PAC report tabled by Parrikar was a "political stunt". However, he had later claimed that he meant to say "stand" and not "stunt".

Chellakumar said, "On behalf of the Congress party, we request the CM, who is the propagator of Rs 35,000 crore figure of illegal mining, to respond to the statement of your own minister (Cabral). If you were right, then give a reply."