It’s not really a chicken and egg situation but the question is sometimes asked. What came first, drugs or
Electronic Dance Music festivals? With three deaths of EDM fans who came to Goa
to attend the Sunburn festival, all of whom collapsed and died, two outside and
one inside the venue, with drug overdose being openly cited as the cause, the
focus is firmly back on the purported unholy nexus between drugs and electronic
drug festivals.
While it would be naïve to suggest that
EDM festivals lead to an upsurge in drug availability and consumption, it would
be equally naïve to comprehend that a every EDM fan attending such festivals is
free of consuming any substance prior to attending a festival of this nature,
where it is widely believed that a substance related high, accentuates the
appreciation of such music. We have heard from people in government, the police
and others. It’s important to hear the voices of Goans on whose land this is
being played out.
Disparate voices from govt show marriage
of convenience
If it is not drugs then I really don’t know how to provide a
reason for their deaths. Hopefully it will not be hushed up. These music
festivals do not take responsibility which is sad. I personally don’t like EDM
but it does not mean it should be banned. The disparate voices coming from the
government is an indicator of the strange marriage of convenience this is. The
festival is a huge money earner and drugs are sold there without a doubt. As a
society we have to take charge- Dr Oscar Rebello, activist and doctor
These are choices people have to make
I cannot comment on whether drugs are available or not. I would
rather blame the youth about what they want or don’t want in their lives.
Everything is available and it is up to the people. Youth going to EDM
festivals do not have to sample drugs. Nowadays the youth have to be more
responsible. We are not meant to blame these festivals. People travel all over
the world and there are music festivals like this. It all boils down to choices
people make Aniket Naik. Film
maker
Since revenue is the only criteria, EDMs
are justified
Drugs are openly available in Goa, with connivance of the
authorities. Goa is drug capital of India. There is more concentration of drugs
when EDMs are held more concentration. ANyhting goes in the ame of getting more
revenue.
Since revenue is the only criteria for the state, EDMS and
Casinos are justified. For heaven’s sake, three very young lives have been
lost. The government says they coukd have died of a heart attack. But what
induced this. Young people don’t die of heart attack. Even a forensic expert
cannot give report unless the viscera is sent to Hyderabad ( the Forensic
laboratory). The police just jumped and said drugs not a cause. To sell drugs
you have to create a market. And the market has been found. New comers come
here and hook our people on drugs- Adv Radharao Gracias, lawyer, columnist
EDMs have nothing to do with drugs
EDM have nothing to do with the drugs. The Duty of the police is
to find out who is selling the drugs. So many incidents (of suspected drug
related deaths) take place and the incidents at Sunburn cannot be
isolated.There are several clubs operating in the state they don’t order you to
take drugs before you enter them. There has to be responsibility on all sides- Advocate Kapil Kerkar
Detailed autopsy needed to find cause of
deaths
The police has to do an investigation but we need a stricter
vigil for minor. Detailed top screen autopsy is very important, in cases of
suspicious deaths- Dr Meenacshi Martins,
activist and actor
State a hub of gambling, prostitution and
drugs
With a drugs haul and a prostitute racket being busted every
second day and now after the sorry and sordid events of the last few days in
particular the Government needs to do some deep introspection and think out of
the box, on a proper way to promote Goa. Casinos and the EDMs have been
tarnishing Goa’s once fair image and our State has sadly become the country’s
gambling hub with the allied vices of prostitution and the narcotics trade also
flourishing by the day while the Crime rate is on a steep rise. Needless to
state Goa is now also a drowning destination. So, for Goa to remain afloat the
authorities, need to urgently act. And faster it happens it would be better for
Goa and Goans.
Adv Aires Rodrigues, activist and lawyer
After two deaths, the Tourism Minister
dances at Sunburn
I filed a writ petition in 2014 when 2 girls died. The High
Court took serious cognizance. Directions were given to sanitize areas close to
night clubs and other venues. But when the police starts giving clean chits
even before an autopsy is conducted, can we expect a fair investigation.
Drugs from the neighbouring areas have come in. Our tourism
minister is stone hearted. After 2 deaths, he goes and dances in Sunburn. Show
some concern for the people who have died. But no, he wants one more festival.
This will kill tourism.
Do
we need to make money on the dead bodies of people? 3 lakh people came. But
because you get business for three days, you allow drug addicts and dealers to
have a field day? There is a Cartel at work. Conduct a thorough investigation.
The delay in getting the viscera report can affect a true report on cause the
cause of deaths- Trajan D Mello, Congress, petitioner in earlier PIL on EDM dies
not paid by organizers
