Panaji, March 23 (IANS): The AAP in Goa stepped up its attack on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday demanding his resignation over his comments that the Goa Police was scared to take on the illegal mining mafia.

"Parrikar has no right to continue in office even for a single day after saying that the police has been unable to act against those responsible for illegal mining because they are scared," AAP leader Dinesh Waghela said at a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party's headquarters here.

Parrikar heads the Goa Police as he handles the state home portfolio as well.

He had given a string of excuses about why the state police had been unable to crack the whip against the illegal mining magnates responsible for Goa's Rs.35,000 crore illegal mining scam.

"The Goa Police (officers) are scared to act," Parrikar had said, adding that only Indian Police Service officers would be in a position to handle the masterminds in the mining scam.

He criticized the central government for not providing him with quality IPS officers, which he said also contributed to the delay in arresting the key accused in the mining scam.