GPCC Gen. Secretary Vijay Bhike said that under the BJP regime the drug problem that is swallowing our Goan youth has reached epidemic proportions. It has also seriously tarnished the image of the Goa tourism industry, bringing to an end Goa’s hitherto healthy tourism trade.

GPCC Gen. Secretary Vijay Bhike said that under the BJP regime the drug problem that is swallowing our Goan youth has reached epidemic proportions. It has also seriously tarnished the image of the Goa tourism industry, bringing to an end Goa’s hitherto healthy tourism trade.
Unfortunately, the BJP tenure has seen a complete breakdown of law and order, giving Goa an unsavoury reputation as a centre of drugs, crime and prostitution. In fact the alleged involvement of BJP MLAs like Michael Lobo in these activities has been highlighted in the media. Similarly, there have also been allegations regarding the involvement of yet another BJP MLA Rohan Khaunte.
It is clear that the extent of the criminal underbelly could not have reached such huge dimensions without the co-operation of the law enforcement agencies and the political fraternity, particularly the Home Ministry. In fact just recently a head constable and constable have been accused of extorting money from a couple and “subjecting them to relentless harassment via incessant phone calls”.
From small time drug peddling, Goa under the BJP has graduated into a full fledged drug production centre with active drug labs mushrooming in the state. It will be recalled that in the case of the ketamine lab in a GIDC shed, there was involvement of a BJP secretary. Now a drug lab has been raided in Anjuna and Rs 5 crore of cocaine unearthed in the state. Shanefully, this has been going on under the very eye of the Goa police and brought to their attention in one case by the Hyderabad police.
While the government is going hammer and tongs in imposing its version of development that seems to be confined to brick, mortar and concrete, unfortunately they do not display the same level of enthusiasm in upgrading the pathetic quality of their governance that the people of Goa are being subjected too.
Hence, while probing drug busts, it is absolutely imperative that the terms of reference of the state conducted probes be widened to encompass the following crucial dimensions :
1. The breadth and depth of drug production in Goa and the places where it is being marketed
2. The involvement of our law enforcement agencies in either actively supporting or turning a blind eye to this manufacture/trade.
3. The big fish who are actually behind this toxic industry.
“A clueless police force and an arrogant and unresponsive government are perfect ingredients for the destruction of Goa as we are presently witnessing” he concluded.