MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Friday asserted that the law and order situation in the State is deteriorating rapidly, citing recent shoot-outs reported in Mungul and Madkai. He demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hand over the Home portfolio to Minister Ravi Naik to rein in criminal activity.
“The law and order situation is worsening by the day and citizens feel unsafe. The government should hand over the Home portfolio to Ravi Naik to bring about a change,” Sardesai said, recalling Naik’s record as Home Minister in the early 1990s. “Ravi Naik had proved himself after he cracked down on the anti-socials.”
The Goa Forward leader alleged that political interference was emboldening anti-social elements. “A BJP office bearer was involved in a recent incident, but the police conveniently avoided arresting the functionary and instead made him a witness through a senior police officer,” he claimed.
Sardesai also drew attention to remarks made by former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat after his induction into the Cabinet. “Even Digambar Kamat has hinted that the Chief Minister should allocate the portfolios to his Cabinet colleagues. Kamat is on record saying he had handed over the Home and Finance portfolios to his Cabinet colleagues during his stint as Chief Minister of Goa between 2007-12,” he noted.
On the recent shoot-outs, Sardesai warned that underworld gangs had entered the State with alleged police protection. “Because of political interference, a good and honest police officer will never get a posting at a police station. The police are being attacked, indicating that people have no respect for the uniform. The DGP should show the potency of the department,” he demanded.
