Rejecting criticism that ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to an under-construction bridge near Panaji was a stunt, state BJP leader Sadanand Shet Tanavde on Monday said that Congress leaders will not be allowed to meet Parrikar henceforth because of the "inhuman politics" played by it vis-a-vis his health.
"There is no question of a stunt. If we had to do a stunt, it could have been done 15 days or a month ago... Court matter is different and this is different," Tanavde told reporters.
He was asked if Parrikar's surprise appearance at the spot on Sunday was a "stunt" carried out because of a pending petition before the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court, which has sought formal medical examination of the ailing Chief Minister and public declaration of his health status.
On Sunday, images of Parrikar wearing medical paraphernelia -- a ryles tube running from the nasal passage into the stomach -- while inspecting a bridge near Panaji, came under both praise from his supporters as well as criticism from several political leaders.
Tanavde, addressing a press conference at the party's state headquarters in Panaji, also said that Parrikar wished to conduct the inspection on his birthday (December 13), but "for some reason, that could not happen".
Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and Delhi since February.
The ppposition has demanded his resignation on account of his prolonged ill-health.
More From This Section
Tanavde said that due to the "inhuman" and "insensitive" politics played by the Congress, which had staged a morcha on Parrikar's private residence demanding a meeting with him last month, no leader from that party would be allowed to meet the CM henceforth.
The BJP leader also said that Parrikar's recovery was for people to see and that the Chief Minister was fit to govern the coastal state.
--IANS
maya/mr