Captain Viriato Fernandes speaks on the government’s plan to set up the IIT at Codar during a media briefing. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Questioning the government’s move to set up the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Codar, South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has charged the government with using educational institutes such as the IITs to give a boost to real estate prices and sell land at a premium to outsiders.
The MP further said that the only way to save an entire generation of youth from drugs is to throw out the BJP government from power.
Addressing the media at his weekly darbar on Wednesday, the South Goa MP said the government’s move to set up the IIT at Codar is contradictory in nature.
“On one hand, the government wants to regularise illegal constructions on the plea that there is no land for construction. On the other hand, the government is zeroing in on land for IITs,” he said, adding that the game plan is to inflate real estate prices and sell land at a premium. “Those who tamper with the sacred land of Goa will not go unpunished,” he warned.
Referring to the death of a student of BITS Pilani last week, Viriato said it is ironic that when the state boasts of an intelligence network, it has failed to break the backbone of drug trafficking in the state. “With drugs available across the State, it is feared that an entire generation of youth will be wiped out. There appears to be pressure on the police not to act against drugs for selfish interests. This is posing a danger to our youth,” he said.
Saying he has already brought the drugs menace in Goa to the notice of the Union Home Ministry, the South Goa MP said the best remedy to put a firm stop to the menace and clean up Goa is to throw out this government.
