PANJIM: Congress on Saturday alleged that Goa Police downplayed the terror threat input issued by the District Coast Guard last week and demanded the dismissal of the State government for the failure to monitor the intelligence input.
“States like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala took all precautions to avoid a terror attack through their coast but Goa remained completely lethargic. Our coast was left porous despite being a serious national issue,” All India Congress Committee Secretary Girish Chodankar said at a press conference.
The party also slammed the government over the long absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with Chodankar claiming that a major gap in governance led the police department to ignore the intelligence input.
“The State Home Department is aimless in the absence of the minister heading it. How can Goa Police downplay a serious threat and call it a normal mock drill,” Chodankar said, demanding that Goa Governor Mridula Sinha dismiss the government.
“We remained quiet for the last two months because CM is undergoing medical treatment but the situation is turning serious, and the latest example is ignoring the terror threat input,” he said.
Chodankar also demanded that the National Investigation Agency should issue notice to State police asking clarification on why they took the alert lightly.
The Ports Administration on April 6 had asked water sports operators, cruise vessels, offshore casino vessels and barges, to remain alert and inform the department about any suspicious activity in the sea in view of the terror input.
