PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led state government over the alleged rise in drug-related activities in Goa, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan” has failed in the state and alleging that Goa is turning into a “Nasha Yukt Goa.”
Addressing a press conference, GPCC Media and Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar alleged that recent reports highlighting narcotics trafficking have damaged Goa’s image and exposed the government’s inability to curb organised drug networks.
Panjikar claimed that the illegal drug trade in Goa is worth hundreds of crores annually and has spread across national highways, coastal belts, tourist destinations, educational institutions and residential areas. He alleged that the menace is affecting all sections of society, including youth, students, women and tourists.
He further alleged that despite Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant holding the Home portfolio, the government has failed to dismantle organised drug syndicates, claiming that while minor offenders are arrested, the alleged masterminds continue to operate.
Criticising the BJP’s “Double Engine Government,” Panjikar alleged that Goa has witnessed a rise in drugs, organised crime, land scams and corruption, affecting the state’s reputation as a safe and premier tourism destination.
Expressing concern over increasing drug addiction among students and youth, Panjikar also alleged that narcotics are readily available near educational institutions and warned of the growing presence of international drug syndicates, describing it as a serious threat to Goa’s social fabric.
The GPCC demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge into the alleged narcotics network in Goa. It also called for the identification and prosecution of those allegedly providing political patronage to drug mafias, a statewide anti-drug enforcement drive covering schools, colleges, tourist destinations and coastal areas, the creation of a permanent Special Anti-Narcotics Task Force with public accountability, expanded awareness and rehabilitation programmes, and the publication of a White Paper on the implementation and outcomes of the “Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan” in Goa.
Panjikar said the Congress would continue raising the issue, alleging that the government’s failure to tackle the drug menace has put Goa’s youth, families and future at risk.
