Panaji : Describing the firing at St Cruz as “complete breakdown of law and order” in Goa, Opposition parties on Saturday expressed concerns over the future of the state.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat said the economy of Goa has already collapsed causing serious hardships to the marginal sector and the common man.
“Now, the question of people’s safety and security has come to the fore,” he added, pointing out, “Unfortunately, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa is in the celebration mode.”
“It is high time that the BJP government comes out from its virtual world, in which there is place for only festivities and celebrations, and should face the real world,” he snapped, maintaining Chief Minister Pramod Sawant must take a serious note of this incident and take stern action against all the culprits.
Kamat also stated that the Congress has been warning the government about rise in crimes, drug trade, prostitution, rapes and murders, etc since long.
“However, the government did not pay any attention to the concerns raised by us,” he lamented, observing that it would be too late if the government does not act now.
Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said the Goans are shocked by the shootout at St Cruz as Goa is not acquainted to crimes such as “supari” killings and “armed gang warfare”.
“The St Cruz incident is nothing but slow poisoning of Goa,” Sardesai added, questioning as to whether this is the ‘Indianisation’ of Goa, about which the Chief Minister is frequently speaking.
“Is this a way of joining the Indian mainstream, which the Chief Minister expects to do,” he questioned, maintaining that Goa is being converted into an Uttar Pradesh-like situation.
Appealing to the Goans to “keep alive Goenkarponn”, the GFP chief said the government has shown its incapability to protect ‘Goan-ness’.
He also retorted that anyone speaking against the government is arrested within five minutes, but the police are unable to arrest those involved in the shootout till the next evening, especially when the shootout takes place at night when there is a curfew in the state, and police are expected to patrol the areas.
Sardesai described the incident as complete breakdown of law and order in Goa, further reiterating his demand to impose President’s rule in the state.