MAPUSA
Latching on the recent allegations made by the Siolim MLA on involvement of a minister in illegal drug trade, the Congress, on Tuesday, said that it will write to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to investigate into the alleged links of a Bardez minister in the drug trade.
The Congress also appealed to the chief minister to sack his cabinet colleague involved in the drug trade and launch an inquiry in the matter.
“We are soon going to write to the NCB and other agencies to investigate into the allegations of the involvement of the minister in the illegal drug trade and to take immediate action against him,” said Agnel Fernandes, ex-MLA and General Secretary of Congress.
He further said the Calangute Congress block will write to AICC President Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leaders and apprise them about the involvement of the controversial Calangute MLA in illegal activities.
The former Calangute MLA along with former sarpanchas, Joseph Sequeira and Anthony Menezes and Congress Block President, Benedict D’Souza were addressing the media in Calangute.
Continuing, Fernandes said the concerned minister’s interest in the three constituencies of Mapusa, Siolim and Calangute clearly showed that he wanted to control the drug route.
“The narcotics are unloaded in Mapusa and then supplied to Anjuna (Siolim) and Calangute which is why the concerned minister wants to wrest control of the three constituencies,” he said.
He further said that the matter assumes significance because two current MLAs “ Porvorim MLA, Rohan Khaunte and Siolim MLA, Vinoda Paliencar “ have made allegations about the involvement of the coastal MLA in the drug trade.
“It’s not some ordinary persons who have made the allegations but two MLAs who were earlier part of the government and are privy to crucial info,” said Fernandes, while playing the videos of the two MLAs making the allegations.
He said it was surprising the chief minister was silent in the matter and wondered whether the government was also involved in narcotic business.
“People of Goa want to know whether the BJP-led government was being run on narco money,” he said.
Former Calangute Sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira recalled that the Calangute MLA of the BJP had once said that he would reveal the names of police officials who were in league with the drug dealers but never did.
“As long as the BJP-led government is in power, no action will come on illegal drug trade. The BJP is running the party on drug money,” Sequeira alleged.
He also alleged that the Calangute Police Inspector was the collection agent of the BJP.
Former sarpanch, Anthony Menezes and Calangute Congress Block President, Benedict D’Souza also spoke.
