PANAJI
At a press conference addressed by former Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenço, former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes and GPCC General Secretary Yatish Naik, the leaders accused the ruling BJP government of completely neglecting law and order in the state which resulted in Goa becoming the "Bangkok of India"
"Calangute has been destroyed by drugs and prostitution. There are videos being circulated that there is open soliciting along the Calangute Baga road and it is said that it is done in front of the business of the local MLA," Agnelo Fernandes alleged.
"Things have never been like they are now. On the back of the news that there were two contract killers caught in Calangute, now there is the case of people dying due to overdose," Fernandes said.
He was ably aided by Lourenço who said that despite being warned about the prevalence of drugs in the state, the chief minister has done nothing about it.
"I've been raising the instances of drug overdose in the legislative assembly. We have been time
and again been talking about this. What has the chief minister done about it?" Lourenço asked.
"They were saying our party is the most corrupt. Now what is going on? Are they selling drugs without paying money to anyone?" Lourenço said.
For his party, Yatish Naik demanded that Calangute MLA Michael Lobo make public the names of the police officers who he believes are involved in drugs.
"Calangute MLA submitted a list of police officers to the Director General of Police? Why is he not making the list of the names public? Who is he trying to protect," Naik said adding that the BJP has been in
power since 2012 first with Manohar Parrikar as chief minister, then with Laxmikant Parsekar as chief minister and now Parrikar again.
"The same MLA is saying that today it is not safe for Goan girls to walk about at night. If you can't make it safe you have no right to sit in the seat of power," Naik said pointing out that even the ruling side seemed to be complaining instead of doing something about it despite being in power.
"Goa has hit rock bottom in law and order," Naik said.
