PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party castigated Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for the spike in Covid cases and said mere phrases like “bhiupachi garaz na” do not work.
AAP Goa Convener Rahul Mhambre pointed out that every day there are 130 new cases thus giving Goa eight per cent Covid cases which is higher than the national rate of 5 per cent.”Goa at present has the fourth highest number of Covid cases in the country and this is not expected when the chief minister is from the medical profession,” he said. He further pointed out that the chief minister only preaches safeguards and precautions but does not follow them at public functions and places.
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“Dr Pramod’s misadventures are putting Goa and Goans at a great risk,” said Mhambre. He also questioned whether the SOP is only for activists protesting and not for casinos and night clubs. “Why is the chief minister so kind to the casinos and night club industry and least bothered about Goans losing their means of livelihood?” he asked.
The State’s stance on CZMP public meeting where people were not allowed for the meeting following the COVID protocols, a huge police force was deployed to keep the public from entering the meeting premises. The police have remained mere spectators while red carpet is being set for outsiders at casinos and night clubs. One of the crucial SOPs is that casinos are only permitted to contain 50 % of their capacity at any given time, said Mhambre.
“Whether this is being maintained is the question, given the huge rush at nights on weekends and festival holidays,” said AAP Goa Convener Mhambre. He further mentioned that comprehensive SOPs for casinos were issued, given the chaos and confusion that is being witnessed in connection with the casinos, it needs to be asked if SOP compliance is being monitored by the authorities.
“CM Pramod has to lead the State himself being the example first; recent inaugural ceremony of the new building of the Bombay High Court at Porvorim, the pictures of the ceremony depicted with none of the dignitaries with mask leaves the ordinary person to think whether Section 144 was for Goans and not for the people in power and outsiders. Why is the BJP Government refusing to maintain the same standards for the casinos, beach and rave parties and tourists’ revellery?” said Mhambre.
