Panaji: Five ministers in Goa's Congress-led ruling coalition Friday boycotted a cabinet meeting and threatened to topple the government during the budget session later this month if their demands were not met. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, however, denied any threat to his government.

The five, part of a seven-member pressure group, said that Kamat should not expect their support for the Financial Bill if he does not accede to "certain" of their demands. The group comprises Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza, Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco and Nilkant Halarnkar - all from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar and his legislator brother Deepak of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane (independent) and Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.

"Two days ago (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar conveyed our demands to the chief minister and gave him two days to get back to us. The two days have passed and there is no response," Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, spokesman for the group, told reporters.

He refused to spell out the nature of the demands made by them. "In protest we decided to boycott the cabinet meeting today (Friday). If the chief minister does not get back to us, he should not expect our support for the Finance Bill in the assembly," Dhavalikar said.

Speaking to reporters late Friday evening, Kamat said that there was no threat to his government.

"I do not recognize this Group 7 that you talk of. My government is in alliance with the NCP, MGP and two other legislators," Kamat said.

the chief minister refused to divulge the exact nature of demands made by the group which is threatening to pull his government down. "It is a matter of politics. Why should people be told?" Kamat said, adding that he had informed the Congress high command about the demands conveyed to him by Pawar.

Goa's 40-member assembly comprises of 18 legislators from the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (14), NCP (3), MGP (2), unattached UGDP (1) and two independent legislators.

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