After ‘Modi best friend’ comment, Kamat goes soft on Parrikar

PANAJI - Nearly a week after calling Narendra Modi his “best friend” and incurring the ire of the Congress high command, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Sunday gave a clean chit to Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar in a graft case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing accusations of corruption and financial misappropriation against Parrikar, then chief minister during the construction of infrastructure for hosting the 2004 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

The complaint against Parrikar was filed by Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho after the BJP was dislodged from power both in the state and centre.

Speaking to reporters, Kamat, a former BJP legislator and urban development minister in the BJP-led coalition government in 2004 when the scam is alleged to have occurred, said that he himself was a part of the core committee which took final decisions on creation of infrastructure and expenditure.

“I was part of the core committee myself… I don’t think any wrong decision was taken by the core committee which decided on infrastructure creation,” the Congress chief minister said, indirectly absolving Parrikar of the charges levelled against him.

“The core committee had deliberated on the issues and had taken the final decision. There are minutes of the meeting available to confirm this,” said Kamat.

When specifically questioned if he was absolving Parrikar of the charges, Kamat said: “I am not supporting anyone. But whatever I am talking is based on facts.”

Kamat invited the ire of the Congress high command after calling Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi his “best friend” earlier this month.