Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Goencho Avaaz Party demands an independent public enquiry to scrutinize and assess the Goa government’s response and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the High Court statement last month about the Goa government being guilty of violating Article 21 of the constitution by failing to protect life due to criminal negligence, the enquiry should shed light on what went wrong and the true extent of the government’s mismanagement of the pandemic.
Swapnesh Sherlekar, President of Goencho Avaaåz Party said: ‘Goans will never forget the abysmal way in which the COVID-19 pandemic åhandled under Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane’s watch. Governments should not forget that they are accountable to the people that they are meant to serve and that a report card of their performance is important. Nobody is above the law. People need to understand what went wrong and why innocent lives were lost needlessly. The findings of the study should also serve as learning to avoid future needless disasters.
Therefore we are asking for the following aspects to fall under the remit of the enquiry:
“The accuracy in the reportage of daily fatalities and positive cases; The oxygen shortage at GMC, which led to so many needless deaths; The reasons behind a green zone that was clear of COVID-19 suddenly transforming into a hot-bed of the virus,” GAP demanded.
GAP said the failure of the state government in announcing timely restrictions like shutting down of casinos, parties, celebrity events, Hunar Haat and State borders etc. which compelled village panchayats to step in by imposing localized lockdowns to protect their people.
Relief measures initiated by the government
The enquiry should reveal the accurate financial and economic loss sustained by Goa, its industries and small businesses and plans of the government to facilitate their rehabilitation.
“Negligence if any in procuring medical equipments, medicines and failure to follow ICMR guidelines in handling Covid 19,” GAP said.
Captain Viriato Fernandes, State Convenor of Goencho Avaaz Party said: ‘’A commission has to be put in place, comprising independent and objective experts to conduct due diligence into the inertia of the government as the second wave surged. It is high time that the guilty should be punished. We urge the government to do the right thing and ensure that this public enquiry is conducted in a fair and free manner. We urge the government to adopt a spirit of transparency and honesty, and let people know exactly what transpired that led to the colossal human tragedy. The people after all, have a right to know.’’
