Goa was dealt with another blow at a time when the government was just trying to shrug off the popular perception that the state is a drug destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Narcotics have hit the headlines once again when a 28-year-old native of Tamil Nadu who attended a rave party in Vagator died of a drug overdose while another tourist hailing from Kerala who attended a party at Anjuna died soon after being admitted to hospital.
Goa has been a happening destination for rave parties and nightlife where casinos, booze, sex and drugs have been playing a part. Rave parties have been taking place in coastal Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator, besides Morjim, Mandrem, Arambol and Keri in Mandrem constituency where a BJP chief minister was ruling. On this fateful Sunday, six night parties were lined up along the Anjuna-Vagator coast. While it's all happening right under the eyes of the administration, the government continues to remain in denial mode with Parrikar stating that there are no rave parties happening in Goa.
The government is known to have turned a blind eye and shied away from muddying its hands. No headway has been made into leads that showed the drug connection. A Goan was picked up in May this year by the Kerala police from Mapusa for supplying party drugs to users in Kochi. During interrogation, he had disclosed that he had been buying the synthetic drugs from a Nigerian national. If the government was serious in tackling drug deals in Goa, why have there been no investigations built around this case? The role of police involvement in the drug trade had come into focus after Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse uploaded a video on YouTube that showed her former Israeli drug dealer boyfriend Atala boasting of his connections with the police and politicians. Nothing moved after that.
There was a legislative report on the police-drug mafia nexus in Goa which virtually reinforced the state's reputation as the top narco-tourism destination in the country. The report exposed how the drug mafia network is deeply connected with the police and political hierarchies. Scarlett Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown too had pointed at the politician-police drug nexus while blaming Ravi Naik's son Roy for the death of her daughter. All these leads were big enough to expose the dark underbelly of Goa's drug trade, but the government remained mute.
Parrikar's plan of action now is a knee-jerk reaction. Crackdown on parties beyond the stipulated time will not help curb this menace. Neither will blaming the area police officers or the party organisers. The restrictions may bring down the tempo of parties but will not help in flushing out the narcotics. If the CM has to wipe Goa of the narcotic tag, he has to be honest enough first and admit that drugs are happening in Goa. Target the source - the big mafia pushing in the drugs, more than the end consumer. Crack the whip on your own people, whether it is the local police or the higher ups, or even the local politician. Unless that is plugged, nothing will change. Parties will stop and parties will go on.
Tourism has been our main revenue earner after mining went on a downward trajectory. But which way is our tourism heading? Goan locals are now almost rooted into this drug trade because, as they party along, there is also quick money to be made. Goan tourism is being sold more on casinos, alcohol, nightlife, sex and drugs. Parrikar is trying to win over the liquor lobby with his denotifying stunts. He's also doing a delicate balancing act on casinos by taking an unrealistic gamble proposing a ‘gaming zone'.
Is the government serious about getting back the Goa that we have lost? In the name of tourism, successive governments have forgotten what Goemkarponn is. Give back
the Goa that was once known to the world -- a pristine and heavenly paradise. For the common man, that is true Goemkarponn.
Goa has been a happening destination for rave parties and nightlife where casinos, booze, sex and drugs have been playing a part. Rave parties have been taking place in coastal Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator, besides Morjim, Mandrem, Arambol and Keri in Mandrem constituency where a BJP chief minister was ruling. On this fateful Sunday, six night parties were lined up along the Anjuna-Vagator coast. While it's all happening right under the eyes of the administration, the government continues to remain in denial mode with Parrikar stating that there are no rave parties happening in Goa.
The government is known to have turned a blind eye and shied away from muddying its hands. No headway has been made into leads that showed the drug connection. A Goan was picked up in May this year by the Kerala police from Mapusa for supplying party drugs to users in Kochi. During interrogation, he had disclosed that he had been buying the synthetic drugs from a Nigerian national. If the government was serious in tackling drug deals in Goa, why have there been no investigations built around this case? The role of police involvement in the drug trade had come into focus after Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse uploaded a video on YouTube that showed her former Israeli drug dealer boyfriend Atala boasting of his connections with the police and politicians. Nothing moved after that.
There was a legislative report on the police-drug mafia nexus in Goa which virtually reinforced the state's reputation as the top narco-tourism destination in the country. The report exposed how the drug mafia network is deeply connected with the police and political hierarchies. Scarlett Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown too had pointed at the politician-police drug nexus while blaming Ravi Naik's son Roy for the death of her daughter. All these leads were big enough to expose the dark underbelly of Goa's drug trade, but the government remained mute.
Parrikar's plan of action now is a knee-jerk reaction. Crackdown on parties beyond the stipulated time will not help curb this menace. Neither will blaming the area police officers or the party organisers. The restrictions may bring down the tempo of parties but will not help in flushing out the narcotics. If the CM has to wipe Goa of the narcotic tag, he has to be honest enough first and admit that drugs are happening in Goa. Target the source - the big mafia pushing in the drugs, more than the end consumer. Crack the whip on your own people, whether it is the local police or the higher ups, or even the local politician. Unless that is plugged, nothing will change. Parties will stop and parties will go on.
Tourism has been our main revenue earner after mining went on a downward trajectory. But which way is our tourism heading? Goan locals are now almost rooted into this drug trade because, as they party along, there is also quick money to be made. Goan tourism is being sold more on casinos, alcohol, nightlife, sex and drugs. Parrikar is trying to win over the liquor lobby with his denotifying stunts. He's also doing a delicate balancing act on casinos by taking an unrealistic gamble proposing a ‘gaming zone'.
Is the government serious about getting back the Goa that we have lost? In the name of tourism, successive governments have forgotten what Goemkarponn is. Give back
the Goa that was once known to the world -- a pristine and heavenly paradise. For the common man, that is true Goemkarponn.
