Opposition, cops hit back at minister

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar has got himself into the eye of a storm for his public censuring of a cop, which has been construed by some as his blessings for rave parties.

While Mandrekar denied having given rave parties his blessings at a function at Chapora Friday, while flaying the local police inspector for cracking the whip on such parties, politicians in the Opposition and police officers did not hesitate to hit back at Mandrekar for his unwarranted statements.

Former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes, ridiculed Mandrekar’s statements at a function Friday saying that police officers should not be publicly rebuked for discharging their duties.

“In fact people in the coastal areas are not happy about rave and drug parties taking place there and the police have a duty to stop such illegal activities,” he said.

Fernandes alleged that the present government appears interested in rave parties, casinos, dance bars and Mandrekar’s statement Friday is only an indication that it supports drug activities in Goa.

On Saturday, even the police personnel were unable to digest Mandrekar’s public statements against their colleague. “Can we react to politicians’ statements? We know the ground realities better. One thing is clear, the raids were genuine,” a senior officer reacted.

Another officer said Dayanand Mandrekar’s statement was uncalled for. “What was the purpose of making such a statement during the inauguration of coastal police station? He was deviating from his brief but even then, casting aspersions on the officers was uncalled for,” he said. “But if we react, we will face transfers or disciplinary action,” the cop asserted.

“I just ignore such statements. It’s his perception and it should ‘go in one ear and out from the other,” another senior officer said literally translating from a Konkani phrase, which implies one should not to take it seriously.

“Being a disciplined force, we know what our duties are. We serve irrespective of which government is in power,” said another referring to some Bollywood movies in which the lead actors who play upright police officers “care-a-damn” of which government is in the ruling and Opposition.

The department ~ whether IPS officers or Goa Police Service cadre ~ has stood united, albeit not officially (for they fear facing wrath of the politicians) echoing that politicians should refrain from interfering in the police functioning which was the mantra of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar when he took over the reigns.

Lavino Rebello a resident of Anjuna said, “It is a very immature statement that has been made by the minister. When the government is trying to implement the law as well as directions from the High Court of Goa, how can a person of the level of a minister in government say what he said? he questioned.

“We don’t want junkies in Anjuna. We are building five star hotels, improving infrastructure to bring in quality roads. The government is in no way benefiting from junkies. Such statements are uncalled for. The people of Anjuna are not fools… he is supporting the breaking of the law. The High Court should take suo moto cognizance of his statements,” Rebello declared.

“The Chief Minister will definitely not approve and appreciate these types of statements from his ministers,” Rebello said with confidence.

The Congress party Saturday also condemned the statement by BJP minister Dayanand Mandrekar. “This exposes the minister who has been patronizing rave parties along the coastal belt,” said a party spokesperson.

This spokesperson allegedly said, “The state government is struggling to earn revenue for the state and they are supporting evils like rave parties.”

Another CLP spokesman, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco also took a dig at the government claiming it is destroying tourism by supporting casinos, dance bars and drugs.

“The Manohar Parrikar-led government is finding a new lady love with each passing day. Drugs, casinos, dance bars are the new components of tourism under the parivartan regime which is 17 months old,” he commented while also reacting to BJP spokesman Dr Wilfred Mesquita’s statement defending dance bars in the State.

Lourenco said the government should apologize to the State.