PANJIM: The double speak of the government on the operation of illegal dance bars has been exposed with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant proudly announcing that there are no dance bars operating in Goa, his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Michael Lobo has earlier claimed that there are 12 to 13 dance bars operating illegally in the coastal belt of Calangute.
As the State prepares to usher in full fledged Christmas and New Year celebrations post Covid-19 restrictions, illegal activities too are flourishing rapidly. The government has already faced criticism from NGOs and civil society on their reduced guard against commercial human trafficking. The Chief Minister after chairing the review meeting of the Goa Police had said, “There are no dance bars operating in Goa”.
However it may be recalled that Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo with the panchayat members met DGP Jaspal Singh and demanded action against the illegal dance bars operating in the coastal state. Lobo has come on record that nearly 12 to 13 dance bars operate illegally in Calangute- the licences for which were obtained under the pretext of operating restaurants.
Meanwhile (Anyay Rahit Zindagi) ARZ Director Arun Pandey said “Technically there is no “dance bar”, as there is no legislation to have a dance bar in Goa. But, there are around 16 bars in Calangute itself where girls are recruited to dance”.
“One does not know, whom to trust, the local MLA, Sarpanch or the police. Because, as per the local MLA there are 16 bars where dancing is happening,” Pandey said.
NGOs, academicians and organisations working for social justice have already flayed the State Government and the police for reducing their guard against human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. The statistics of rescues which were in hundreds per year in the past have gone down to just 19 women being rescued from being trafficked this year.
“I am surprised why not a single girl is rescued from these dance bars? If they would have been rescued, based on the girls statement, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) could have sealed the place. Is the State really interested in closing dance bars?” asked Pandey.
