Panaji: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday asked BJP cadre to reach out to the minority communities, and dispel their false perceptions, which he claimed, are a result of fake news.
Addressing party workers at a meeting, Mr. Parrikar said, “We will have to approach the minorities. There are efforts to inflame their passions. There is no practice more inhuman than triple talaq. Even the Supreme Court has passed strictures against it. When Modiji brought the law on directions of the SC, that too was obstructed.”
The Chief Minister said, “In the IT age, you keep getting information on Facebook, along with fake news. We read in newspapers about the lives lost in several places on account of fake news. The responsibility of the workers therefore increases. As elections draw nearer, you will get different kinds of fake news. Accusations will be made purely for the purpose of publicity.”
“When I first came to power, rumours were spread that I was arrogant. Congressmen are experts at spreading such things. We have to be able to respond to this,” he told workers.
Attacking the Opposition for spreading an air of scepticism and negativity, Mr. Parrikar wondered if the Congress would have believed in the surgical strikes if he had instructed the army to take Mr. Rahul Gandhi along on the mission.
“I am not speaking about the surgical strikes in political terms. What do the Opposition parties claim? That they (strikes) were not carried out. Look at the negativity. Should I have taken you (Opposition) along? I would have told the army to take Rahul Gandhi along and carry out the surgical strikes,” Mr. Parrikar said.
He said the most important thing about the surgical strikes was the secrecy. “Only four of us knew: the Prime Minister, I, the army chief, and the Director General of Military Operation,” Mr. Parrikar said.
No alcohol on beaches from August 15
Be prepared to pay ₹2,500 as fine if you plan to drink beer or any form of alcohol on a Goan beach or at any public place from August 15, the CM said.
Mr. Parrikar said he had also cautioned college students found drinking beer at the newly-developed riverfront along the Mandovi.
“There will be a heavy fine if you are found drinking (in public). We are issuing a notification soon,” Mr. Parrikar said.
