Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI In a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the BJP is directly complicit in the ongoing drug trade in Goa and demanded a central investigation into the involvement of several BJP leaders.
AAP Goa President Adv. Amit Palekar, citing recent statements by BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar, and former BJP minister Babu Ajgaonkar, said these internal revelations indicate “clear complicity” and “full knowledge” of the drug trade within the ruling party.
“Lobo recently had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Why didn’t he raise the issue of drugs there? His silence speaks volumes. Drugs is business-as-usual for the BJP,” Palekar alleged.
He also criticised Arlekar and Ajgaonkar, who have exchanged public accusations over drug-related activities in Pernem. “It seems like a turf war between two leaders over control of the drug trade,” Palekar said, calling the situation “shocking” and “casual” considering its serious impact on local youth.
AAP has demanded that national investigative agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) take up the matter suo moto. “If the state fails to act, we will approach the relevant authorities and even the courts,” Palekar warned.
AAP Vice-President Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai added to the allegations, stating, “The BJP, which claims to uphold Indian culture, is actively enabling vices that destroy it. The recent record-breaking drugs haul in Goa raises more questions than answers.”
He recalled a previous case involving a ketamine factory allegedly operating on land linked to a BJP district leader. “What became of that case?” Teleikar asked, also raising the issue of the infamous drug lord Atala, who was controversially issued an Aadhaar card. He accused the government of hiding officials’ involvement by submitting sealed records to court.
Teleikar contrasted BJP’s alleged inaction with the AAP government’s approach in Punjab. “Only one state—Punjab under AAP—has formally declared a War on Drugs, setting up a Cabinet sub-committee and deploying specialised technology and manpower to combat drug networks that operate via the dark web and cryptocurrency,” he said.
Palekar concluded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant could have taken lessons from Punjab’s example. “But Sawant didn’t because BJP’s own people are deeply entrenched in the drug network,” he alleged.
AAP has called for immediate and transparent action, warning that continued silence from the authorities would only confirm their worst fears about political patronage in Goa’s drug nexus.
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