Goemkarponn desk
AAP Leader Cecille Rodriques uncovered a shocking scam this morning at the Patradevi Checking post and found that bribes of just 250 INR people are being allowed in Goa without taking Covid tests. A person who travelled by a luxury bus narrated to Rodriques how the bus operator took INR 250 from passengers without a negative certificate and even encouraged those who were taking the RAT test to pay bribes. Memories of how Goa suffered during the Covid second wave are still fresh in people’s minds and yet the Sawant Sarkar is allowing border authorities to indulge in corruption while letting people in the state putting Goenkars at risk. Is this how Sawant will fight the third wave? AAP Leader Cecille Rodriques will be leading a delegation with video evidence to the Collector on Monday
It’s shocking that people are being allowed to enter from Maharashtra into Goa without Covid Negative certificates. Not just that but private bus operators are so emboldened that they announce to their passengers that those without tests can just pay INR 250 to be allowed into Goa. Infact a Goenkar has shared with Cecille video evidence of the driver of a bus announcing to those without a Negative certificate that they have to pay a bribe of INR 250 and skip the RAT test.
Just before the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival the Sawant Sarkar said it was prepared for the third wave. It also came up with a restrictive SOP for families celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home that they had to pull back after a huge public outcry. While they have rules galore for Goenkars, people are being let into the state without any checks and rampant corruption abounds. It may be noted that in May AAP Goa Convenor Rahul Mhambre uncovered that many people who came in through Mapusa station were not being tested during the second wave.
“It is unforgivable that despite losing so many lives during the second wave the Govt is still welcoming Corona into the state. Border officials are making a quick buck at the expense of the lives of Goenkars” said Rahul Mhambre AAP Goa Convenor. “During the second wave the Health Minister oversaw a huge Oxygen crisis that was started by him and the CM was silent. Cases grew daily and lives were lost but the CM was silent. This time he is personally inviting Corona to Goa” added Mhambre.
“We are seeing Maharashtra experiencing a rise in Cases, yet our authorities are least interested. The Govt should stop with their fake promises and ensure those sitting at the checkpost get serious to protect Goenkar lives. How can they excuse these bribes being taken to allow people coming in? Is the cost of a Goan life just 250 rupees?” said AAP Goa Leader Cecille Rodrigues. “Yesterday 2 people died at GMC, are we waiting for more to die before we act? We are going to be taking this the collector with a home that this is brought to an end” added Rodriques