PANJIM: The opposition Congress on Friday demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should resign as Home Minister for the ‘collapse of law and order in the State’.
Speaking to reporters, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar said that the shocking shooting incident at Curchorem involving the sand mafia in which one worker was shot dead and two seriously injured has brought to the fore the lawlessness prevalent in Goa. He condemned this lawlessness and gun culture fast spreading in Goa.
“Goa is heading in the direction like the Jungle Raj in Uttar Pradesh and going the Gangs of Wasseypur way. Have we heard of a shootout in the past? Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is unware of what is happening in the State and is busy enjoying the festivities when people are killed. The CM should come clear on the law and order situation or resign from the home minister’s post. Goa’s image has suffered tremendously,” he said.
Coming on the heels of the murder of BJP leader Sonali Phogat, the Congress president wondered whether the refusal of the Goa government to hand over the case to the CBI was to shield the bigger conspiracy and the likely nexus of people in power and the underworld.
Congress spokesman Capt Viriato Fernandes highlighted that the shooting incident has occurred in Curchorem Constituency represented by Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, who incidentally is also the Law Minister.
