By IANS,
Panaji : Prafulla Hede, a mine owner and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s aide in Goa, Saturday accused the Congress-led coalition government of victimising him for political reasons.
The NCP is part of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat-led coalition government and has two ministers in the 12-member cabinet.
Hede, who co-ordinates the affairs of NCP in Goa, said: “I am doing the co-ordination for the NCP for a friend (Pawar). I think I am being singled out for political reasons, that’s a possibility.”
Hede, known as Pawar’s confidant in Goa political circles, contested the mines department’s claim that his mine indulged in illegal activities.
“My papers are in order. Why are other mine owners not being acted against. I am being singled out,” Hede said.
Hede said that the mines department, which functions under Kamat, was not doing enough to curb illegal mining.