MAPUSA
The Congress and the AAP on Wednesday said one of the primary reasons for the hike in attacks in the beach village of Calangute was the rise in dance bars dotting the coastal belt.
They also blamed the poor policing and lack of strong political leadership for the sorry state of affairs in the constituency.
Former Calangute MLA and Congress Vice President Agnelo Fernandes said the Souza Lobo restaurant was attacked for the third time by an outsider and the police have failed to take any action in the matter.
He said these outsiders who do business in the State were involved in all illegal businesses like prostitution, drugs etc.
“When some of our villagers organised a peaceful protest against the installation of a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo in Calangute, PI Nolasco Raposo was quick to make his presence felt and keep the protestors at a distance from the MLA’s event. But the same police could do nothing to stop the attack on the Souza Lobo restaurant. Where is the intelligence of the police,” Fernandes questioned.
He said last time he had disclosed the presence of 35 dance bars in Calangute and that number must have increased.
“If these dance bars are not shut, such attacks will continue to happen. Police also know about it but fail to take pre-emptive action,” he said.
He said time and again, the locals were targeted by outsiders and the BJP-led government failed to act against the perpetrators of the crime.
“Why are locals targeted by these non-Goan gangs and under whose protection? Are any leaders involved in such attacks?” the former MLA said.
Aam Aadmi Party leader from Calangute Sudesh Mayenkar said cheap tourism was promoted in Calangute and blamed the administration and the local MLA for the attack on the popular beach-side restaurant.
“There is a need for good leadership in Calangute. The beach village is getting bad publicity for all the wrong reasons. There is a need of strong political will to change this perspective in Calangute,” Mayenkar said.
According to another AAP leader Manuel Cardozo, dance bars should be shut and the government should stop promoting cheap tourism in the State.
“These attacks happen because they have a godfather here. Looks like the BJP-led government and particularly the home minister has failed,” Cardozo said.
