I was abused by minister, like Azam Khan: ex Goa Dy CM

The issue of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's controversial sexist comment directed at acting Lok Sabha Speaker Rama Devi, echoed in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Sudin Dhavalikar, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA who served as deputy Chief Minister in the Parrikar-led cabinet, alleged that he was abused by a minister in front of late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar during a cabinet meeting. 

"I condemn Azam Khan's comments on the Lok Sabha MP Rama Devi. Something similar happened during a cabinet meeting chaired by the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, when the Art and Culture Minister abused me. The Chief Minister should inquire into the incident," Dhavalikar demanded. He also said that he could not raise the issue with the deceased leader, because Manohar Parrikar's health was failing at the time.

Sudin Dhavalikar walked out of the Assembly after he was told by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant not to rake up a several months-old confrontation. 

The incident is said to have occurred in January during a cabinet meeting when the then minister Govind Gaude is alleged to have verbally abused Dhavalikar -- both traditional political rivals -- in Parrikar's presence.

Sawant said that Dhavalikar should have taken up the issue with Parrikar then and such an issue could not be raised in the state assembly now. IANS