Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government, accusing it of presiding over the “worst-ever law and order situation” in the state. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, AAP Goa President Adv. Amit Palekar challenged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to a public debate on governance and released a poster titled “The Failed CM” criticising the government’s alleged failure to curb crime.
Palekar alleged that Goa has witnessed an unprecedented surge in criminal cases over the past few months, including murders, shootings, gang clashes, robberies, and assaults on activists. “Goa has never seen such a high rise in crime. This is a complete collapse of law and order. Pramod Sawant is a failed CM who has failed the people of Goa. I challenge him for a debate — face me if you have even a dime of accountability towards Goans,” he said. He further accused the BJP government of protecting criminals while targeting citizens who expose illegalities, stating, “They talk about double-engine government, but what they have actually doubled are criminals. This is a cocktail government — they collected criminals from all over and poured them into BJP.”
Highlighting recent incidents, Palekar referred to the attack on an AAP volunteer in Benaulim who tried to stop illegal sand dune destruction, the murder of activist Umakant Khot in Morjim, the assault on activist Rama Kankonkar in Panaji, and the custodial assault of youth Edberg Pereira in Navelim. He alleged that police often act only after public outrage and not when crimes actually occur.
AAP Goa General Secretary (Organisation) Shrikrishna Parab echoed these concerns, saying that Goa Police has lost credibility under the BJP regime. “Every incident in Goa today is linked to people who are protected by the ruling party. The protectors have become destroyers — and the CM is busy doing events while the public suffers,” Parab said.
The party also listed a series of major crime incidents in the past two months, including a double murder in Saligao, the murder of Umakant Khot in Morjim, a shooting over illegal sand mining in Pernem, a gang clash outside the Panaji Police Station, custodial assault cases, and armed dacoities in Mapusa and Dona Paula.
AAP leaders reiterated their demand for accountability from the Chief Minister and called for immediate action to restore law and order in the state, asserting that the BJP government “acts only when people protest” and that “law exists only on paper” under Pramod Sawant’s rule.
