MAPUSA: The Opposition Congress on Wednesday put the government on the mat over growing drug menace across Goa.
The acting leader of the House and PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavlikar was kept on his toes for almost half an hour as the opposition questioned the government’s commitment to tackle the drug menace.
Cuncolim MLA, Clafacio Dias set the ball rolling stating that very few drug accused were convicted clearly showing a huge disparity between cases registered and the conviction rate.
Responding to the charge, Dhavlikar said it wasn’t that way, as many cases were still under investigation and more convictions could happen later.
The State had registered 168 drug cases last year as compared to 60 cases in 2016 and 61 in 2015 showing almost 200 percent jump.
Canacona MLA, Isidore Fernandes informed that the average age of people arrested in drug related cases was 25, clearly establishing the fact that youngsters were involved in the drug trade.
He said there was concern in the State that drugs were now easily available in schools and colleges of Goa.
“I don’t think police are serious in stopping the drug business in the State. If not, drugs would not have reached the schools,” Fernandes said.
Citing a case, the Leader of the Opposition, Chandrakant Kavlekar said that a principal of a school in Cujira complex had confidentially written to the police about suspicion of drugs in the campus but police failed to take action on the letter.
“The school principal pointed out that some students who attended classes always appeared stupefied and fell asleep on benches. The police never took cognizance of the letter,” Kavlekar said.
According to Curtorim MLA, Alexio Reginald Lourenco drugs was not confined only to urban areas but was fast spreading to the villages and rural Goa.
“Let’s not make our Goa into an ‘Udta Goa’,” Reginald said ref1erring to ‘Udta Punjab’ movie, which revolved around the drug abuse by youth of Punjab.
Referring to persons from a certain nationality, some of the MLAs said these persons came to Goa on student visa and were involved in drug trade and demanded their ban.
“I studied abroad. If any student was caught for a drug related offence he was immediately deported. We should do the same in Goa. These students come from a particular country. Deport them and ban them from coming to Goa,” Pratapsingh Rane, Poriem MLA said.
Acknowledging the concern expressed by the members of the House, Dhavlikar said the drugs issue was very sensitive and appealed to the members of the Opposition if they had any confidential information to share it with the government.
“It’s a very sensitive issue and therefore should not be politicized. If we get the support from Opposition we can crush the menace of drugs in Goa. If you have any information please share it with us,” Dhavlikar said.
Ponda MLA, Ravi Naik, Velim MLA, Filip Rodrigues, Benaulim MLA, Churchill Alemao also raised concern on the issue.
