PANAJI: With Zilla Panchayat elections scheduled for December 20, the Congress launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Goa government, holding Chief Minister Pramod Sawant directly responsible for the Arpora nightclub tragedy that claimed 25 lives.
Addressing a press conference today, AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare alleged that the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub was allowed to operate illegally despite repeated complaints and without mandatory permissions.
“The club functioned without excise, fire, or pollution control clearances. The government was aware of these violations and still failed to act. The Chief Minister is now trying to mislead the people of Goa by announcing only a magisterial inquiry. The responsibility for the death of 25 innocent people lies entirely with the CM,” Thakare said.
He said the seriousness of the lapses forced the High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.
“The court has ordered a complete investigation because there are serious doubts about the role of senior officers and even the Chief Minister’s office. The CM cannot escape accountability,” he added.
GPCC president Amit Patkar took a sharper line, alleging political protection for the nightclub. “This was not an accident. This was murder. The Chief Minister himself admitted there were no licences. Then who allowed the club to operate? Which BJP minister or MLA protected it?” Patkar asked.
Linking the Arpora tragedy to a wider breakdown of law and order, Congress leaders said crimes such as murders, kidnappings and sexual assaults have increased across the state under the BJP government.
“The Home Department is with the Chief Minister. Every failure of law and order in Goa today is his responsibility,” Thakare said, adding that the government has failed to provide basic security to citizens.
Patkar said even BJP leaders had admitted to the collection of protection money from nightclubs. “When former BJP ministers themselves say clubs pay monthly ‘hafta’, it shows how badly law and order has collapsed in Goa,” he said.
The party also accused the BJP government of failing at the grassroots level, particularly in Panchayat governance. Patkar said Rs 152 crore of 15th Finance Commission grants meant for Panchayats had been frozen because the state government failed to submit utilisation certificates and audit reports.
“This money is meant for sanitation, drainage, waste management, water supply, and street lighting. Because of corruption and non-compliance, these basic services are suffering. This is zero delivery by the so-called double-engine government,” he said.
The Congress said public anger against the BJP was clearly visible during door-to-door campaigning for the Zilla Panchayat polls, with Thakare claiming that attempts to bribe or influence voters had increased as the ruling party sensed defeat.
“There is panic within the BJP because the ground has shifted. We are confident that the Congress–Goa Forward Party alliance will secure the chairmanships in both North and South Goa,” he said.
Responding to questions on other opposition parties, Patkar accused the Aam Aadmi Party of attempting to split the opposition vote. "AAP has no real presence on the ground. Arvind Kejriwal comes to Goa and attacks only Congress, not the BJP government. Except Congress and Goa Forward, no one is consistently questioning the BJP, ” he said.
The Congress also issued a firm warning on defections, with Patkar making it clear that there would be no return for turncoats. “Those who have defected from the Congress should be clear about one thing: they will not be taken back. There is no compromise on this,” Patkar said.
