Senior cabinet minister Manohar alias Babu Ajgaonkar is spot on when he says the government has failed in tackling the rampant drugs being circulated in Goa. Yes Ajgaonkar, it requires a unified effort from all, but has the political class shown even the slightest inclination to fight this evil that has threatened to tear apart Goan families?
If people have elected Ajgaonkar and 39 other MLAs to represent them, it is with an objective that these legislators will set right the wrongs that ail Goa. If legislators are helpless in tackling an issue of this magnitude, then there is no reason why they should continue to cling on to their chairs and express helplessness. All MLAs and ministers who have surrendered on issues which plague Goa should pack their bags and go home.
The political class continues to make the police force easy targets. Whether it is Michael Lobo, Vijai Sardesai, Agnelo Fernandes, Mickky Pacheco and others, politicos across party lines have always put police in the firing line. Police being corrupt and incapable of handling drug cases is the common refrain. This only reflects the fact that government has no control over its police force. Even the home minister is not in a position to come out strongly and restore the credibility of the men in uniform. However, let’s be very clear in our minds that no such trade, be it narcotics or matka, can thrive without the tacit support of the powers that be. You cannot expect the local policeman, who is always blamed for haftas and bribes, to take control over such networks. They are only the interlocutors for the big sharks.
Both drugs and matka are social evils and it’s a futile exercise if we are trying to argue on a lesser evil. The State should rise up to stamp out both. We cannot choose to chase drug peddlers while ignoring gambling happening in every possible nook and corner.
We need to get beyond the blame game and tough talk. We need to look beyond the occasional raids and clampdown on late night parties and tighten laws. Lest we forget, the case of two tourists dying after a drug overdose in August last which sent the administration in a tizzy is one case in point. Goa needs to take cues from the Punjab cabinet which has decided to crack down on drug peddlers and smugglers in a big way by proposing death penalty. Let there be a wider debate including all tourism stakeholders and political parties as well. The State needs to work out strong deterrents to stop this menace.
