Referring to the case of a tourist who is currently in hospital battling for her life due to drug overdose, Goa Forward party president Shri Vijai Sardesai said that the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant cannot excuse himself from accepting responsibility for failing to control the rampant distribution and sale of drugs in Goa.
“Today the Sawant government has prioritised event management over everything else in the state. The government appears to have an unofficial policy to organise one of two events every month which cost the exchequer around 2.5 Crore or more; while he and his supporters are busy entertaining themselves with these decadent extravaganzas, drugs are sold freely across the state” Sardesai said. “Goans had felt some respite after the crackdown of the drug trade in the state by Hyderabad police, but unfortunately it appears that the trade is back in full swing once again”.
Goa Forward President accused the Chief Minister of having no plan of action to control the drug trade. “His standing excuse is that the police can catch drug peddlers but but not the suppliers. But under his leadership, strangely, the police were unwilling to co-operate with the Hyderabad police to apprehend the drug suppliers. Even when a confidential letter is sent to the government listing the bars and pubs that play loud music and also those which are hubs of drug trade, the government has not taken any action”, Vijai added.
It’s a matter of concern that Goans who depend on the tourism industry are getting more fearful of Goa’s reputation as a drug logistics hub and drug tourism state which will destroy this renowned tourist destination’s worldwide reputation and impact their livelihood. Even the tourism minister, who was once vocal against someone he labelled as Pablo Escobar is silent as tourists in North Goa fall into the drug trap. “Has his Pablo Escobar left the State or has the drug lord joined hands with the Government?”, questioned Sardesai.
GFP President Vijai Sardesai demanded that Chief Minister either announce his action plan to tackle Goa’s drug trade or resign and hand over the reigns to someone who is capable of ending the sale of drugs in Goa.
