Goa CM Denies Occupying two Houses

Panaji, Jan 16 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar Friday denied reports suggesting that he occupies two government houses and lashed out at the national media for blowing the issue out of proportion.

Talking to reporters at the state secretariat, Parsekar clarified that the roof of his official residence 'Mahalaxmi' was being repaired and till then he was staying in another bungalow, allotted to him two-and-a-half years ago when he was the state health minister.

"I have not caused any loss to the government. I would have caused a loss to the exchequer, if the CM's residence was not ready and I had gone to stay in Leela's or at Cidade (five star resorts in Goa), or somewhere else, then the stay would have been billed. I am staying put in the same place where I was staying as health minister," Parsekar said.

"The roof of the house (CM's official residence) is being repaired. Just take a stroll around there and see. How can I live in a house whose roof has been removed? It has been called a camp office, because our offices are in the basement," Parsekar said.

"I do not think it is a kind of news which can be flashed on the national media. I don't know why it has been done," Parsekar added.

Parsekar's comments came even as the Congress Thursday sent a letter to the Prime Minister's Office accusing Parsekar of hogging two government bungalows, which the Congress claims goes against the principle of austerity advocated by Parsekar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.