Team Herald
PANJIM: A political drama unfolded on Monday at the Old Goa Police Station, which resembled a fortress, with workers of both parties gathering in large numbers as Congress vice-president Sunil Kawthankar and Aam Aadmi Party president Amit Palekar were grilled for over four hours over the escape of land-grab accused Suleman Khan alias Siddiqui.
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When Palekar was about to enter the room Siddiqui’s video surfaced on social media in which the land grabbing accused alleged that he was asked by one Amit Palekar to make the statements in the first video.
After the video surfaced, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quick to jump on to the bandwagon and attack the opposition. Speaking after the inauguration of the Western Bypass in Margao, he said, “I had assured the people of Goa to trust the government and the police. We have arrested Siddiqui in Kerala, and he will not escape again. His arrest will expose the dirty games the Opposition has tried to play by using him to blame the government. No one involved in the land-grabbing scam will be spared.”
Palekar said, “I think Suleman was arrested on December 17 and the police have kept him in illegal custody. The timing of releasing the video accusing me is surprising.”
He said that he was asked at least 50 questions. “There were questions that were being fed from outside. Investigation officer is being used as a pawn in the investigation,” he alleged.
Palekar said, “I am not an accused and I have never seen such investigation in my career. Siddiqui becomes a saint all of a sudden and names me. Why this victimisation? Who arrested, which team arrested, where he was arrested from, which IP address it was uploaded from, the investigation team has to answer these questions,” he said.
Palekar also alleged that it is clear that this video has been made to order. “I will bring in a judicial intervention in this matter and I warn the police not to bow down to pressure,” he said.
Kawthankar said, “Today Pramod Sawant has become actor, director and producer. We had said this at the police station on December 17. We had said that we will avoid what Suleman Siddiqui, a criminal says. We had also said that one shouldn’t be surprised if he takes our names in some days and that is what has actually happened today.”
Kawthankar alleged that Siddiqui has been asked to record the video under pressure. It was a well-orchestrated act by the ruling government. However, they have faltered in the process and are exposed.
Protests and demonstrations by the AAP members continued at the Old Goa Police station with protestors singing patriotic songs and chanting slogans criticising the ruling BJP government.
Alleging that it is a ploy to target the Opposition voices in Goa, Congress president Amit Palekar said, “All top BJP persons are involved in this matter. This is nothing but a ploy to target opposition voices.”
Meanwhile, Adv Palekar has been summoned again by the Old Goa Police at 11 am, on Tuesday, December 24.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said, “Rather than calling the persons who are directly involved in scams for investigation Palekar is called. This is because he has exposed the land grabbing cases. When the BJP government feels threatened by political parties, they do these theatrics.”
AAP leader Valmiki Naik said, “Looking at the timing of the Chief Minister’s statement and after listening to the video and looking at Suleman Khan in the video, it looks like he has been asked to say things. It is time that Goans are freed from this trouble and the BJP rule.”
AAP MLA Cruz Silva said, “Suleman Siddiqui’s first video was genuine. The one that has come out now is a video asked to be made against Palekar. The statement of the Chief Minister proves this.”
