Independence Day turned out to be one of the most celebrated occasions in coastal North Goa with several dusk-to-dawn parties happening across five days. Among the big-time parties were, one named ‘Freedom’ at Morjim and another titled ‘Jungle’ party at Vagator. There’s another scheduled later this month called ‘Revolution’. Interestingly, one of the parties shifted their base from Vagator after there were two death cases last year allegedly due to drug overdose.
Videos of these Independence parties have gone viral showing young crowd swinging to techno and trance music all night long. Hands shoot in the air while multi-coloured laser light beams criss-cross the venue. The atmosphere is simply electric all through and the energy is unbelievable.
Consider this against the brief debate at the recently concluded monsoon assembly session where legislators drew attention to new hubs of drugs. And while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is tracking the elusive narcotic kingpin according to his own admission in the Assembly, there are rave parties happening right in Goa’s backyard. Is this music to your ears, Mr CM? The chief minister raised an alarm over the trend of Goan youth in the age group of 20 to 35 years engaging in drug peddling. The answer is simple: Because they are jobless. And they are lured into this trade because Goa has emerged as a flourishing market.
The government has ruled out drugs use at campuses of schools and colleges. Despite concerns of all and sundry, the CM has given a clean chit. This only indicates that Intelligence has failed to keep a vigil on possible spots outside campuses. Government machinery cannot depend on sentinels all the time. There are at least five schools where students have been found under the influence of drugs only to be reprimanded and let off without any police case. No educational institution would risk their name linked to
drugs.
Sawant has announced that he will tweak laws to ban Goans entering casinos. Nobody knows how and when. But there is a much bigger evil that is threatening to destroy lives of youth. Raves are well-known for the high degree of drug-use, in fact they are the nurseries where Goans take their baby steps. It’s common knowledge that stimulating drugs like XTC, popularly called ‘love drug’, cocaine, MDMA are frequently circulated. Government can’t pretend to be completely oblivious of the party scene in Goa. Lest we forget, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar never admitted rave parties are happening in Goa.
While domestic tourists are going gaga over the rave parties Goa is offering, the Goan youth is steadily falling victim. In fact, there are Facebook posts such as “can’t wait” for the Revolution Party which is scheduled later, explains the enthusiasm attached. It’s time government clears the rot. The nexus is clear as daylight. Village parties come under the purview of music restrictions, rave parties don’t. Goa needs freedom from this rave party culture.
