Goa drug battle is a political challenge for BJP

Like the proxy political battle over drugs in Punjab between the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Goa too the issue of narcotics and drug peddling is fast rousing political parties out of their post-New Year stupor.

Several U-turns by ruling party legislators and a minister appear to have exposed the will of the ruling BJP to take on the drug menace, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a battle against drugs in his radio address to the nation in December.

Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, after declaring that he would shut down mega-scale EDM festivals if any suspicious activity or drugs were found at such events, lashed out at the deceased Isha Mantry, linking the death of the constume designer to binge-drinking, even before the post mortem examination.

“The Supersonic event shut down at 10 pm. The incident happened at 11.30. What I know is that the girl was drinking alcohol till 11,” Parulekar said, ruling out a drug overdose, as collectively alleged by the Opposition. 

Goa attracts three million tourists every year but is also known as a narco-tourism destination where drugs are available in plenty and cheap especially during the tourism season from October to March.

Not even Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Civil Supplies Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, both of whom hail from tourism-savvy coastal constituencies, have escaped the accusations and counter-accusations.

After Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar publicly alleged they had allowed drug trade to allegedly flourish in their constituencies, Parsekar had asked the Crime Branch to probe the allegations against him and his cabinet colleague.

Kawthankar, who was summoned by the Crime Branch late Monday, said that he has submitted a list of dealers and their phone numbers to the police.

“Mandrekar and Parsekar have been legislators for over 17 years. There is heavy drug trade in their areas. Instead of calling those I have accused for questioning, they have summoned me for raising my voice against drugs,” said Kawthankar.