PANAJI
Opposition parties have called for the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the aftermath of the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on Saturday night. They have further demanded a thorough, transparent inquiry to identify lapses and fix responsibility for the tragedy.
The massive blaze killed 25 people — including four tourists and 14 staff members — while the identity of seven victims remains unconfirmed. Police said six others were injured and are undergoing treatment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. An FIR has been lodged against the nightclub owner and general manager. The Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Condolences poured in from opposition leaders at both the State and national levels, many of whom criticised the government for what they termed a complete breakdown in governance and safety protocols.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar described the tragedy as a “Black Day” for Goa’s tourism industry, asserting that the incident reflected a serious collapse of regulatory oversight. “This is not an accident but a direct consequence of the government’s failure in governance and public safety,” he said, demanding that Sawant step down on moral grounds.
Aam Aadmi Party Goa chief Amit Palekar echoed the demand for resignation, stating that the catastrophe was a result of government negligence.
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre expressed grief over the incident while pressing for a transparent and accountable investigation.
Gandhi termed the fire a “criminal failure of governance,” insisting that responsibility must be fixed to prevent such tragedies. Kharge stressed the need for strict enforcement of fire safety norms to avoid future disasters.
Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai alleged that the tragedy was enabled by the government’s negligence. “Twenty-five lives were lost because authorities were asleep at the wheel, allowing negligence and corruption to thrive,” he said, asserting that the government has forfeited its moral mandate.
