“It is easy to say that “extortion is happening”. It is much harder, but far more important, to identify who is allegedly collecting the money, who is allegedly facilitating it and who is allegedly providing political protection.
Palekar has said he is speaking as a lawyer representing restaurant and shack owners. If his clients have been facing such alleged harassment, surely there must be specific incidents, names, locations, demands and complaints. If there is evidence, it should be placed before the police and the public.
Goa has reached a stage where everyone seems to know that an underground system of collections and pressures exists around certain businesses. But “everyone knows” is not evidence. Journalism cannot convict anyone on rumours and politicians cannot make serious allegations without being prepared to substantiate them.”
Congress leader Amit Palekar has raised a serious allegation. He says club owners and beachside restaurant operators in Goa are being subjected to extortion and that the alleged practice is creating fear among people running tourism-related businesses. He has even questioned whether the government is aware of it and whether political connections are protecting those allegedly involved.
These are not small allegations. Extortion is a serious criminal offence. If such a practice is taking place in Goa’s tourism sector, it deserves a proper investigation. But there is one obvious question that Palekar must answer.
If he knows who is behind the alleged extortion, why is he not naming the person?
It is easy to say that “extortion is happening”. It is much harder, but far more important, to identify who is allegedly collecting the money, who is allegedly facilitating it and who is allegedly providing political protection.
Palekar has said he is speaking as a lawyer representing restaurant and shack owners. If his clients have been facing such alleged harassment, surely there must be specific incidents, names, locations, demands and complaints. If there is evidence, it should be placed before the police and the public.
Goa has reached a stage where everyone seems to know that an underground system of collections and pressures exists around certain businesses. But “everyone knows” is not evidence. Journalism cannot convict anyone on rumours and politicians cannot make serious allegations without being prepared to substantiate them.
That is precisely why Palekar’s statement creates more questions than answers.
If he has evidence, he should come forward. If a particular individual is allegedly demanding money from club owners, name that person. If someone connected to the ruling party is allegedly providing protection, identify that person. If government officials are allegedly turning a blind eye, they too should be identified.
Otherwise, the allegation risks becoming another political statement that creates headlines for a day but does little for the people who are supposedly being victimised.
The government, too, cannot hide behind the argument that these are merely political allegations. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte should take the matter seriously. The government should ask Palekar to provide whatever information he has and then have the allegations independently investigated.
There is also another uncomfortable reality.
Tourism businesses in Goa already operate under a complicated maze of licences, permissions, inspections, taxes and regulatory requirements. If business owners are additionally forced to deal with unofficial payments or intimidation, the damage goes beyond individual establishments. It affects Goa’s reputation as a tourism destination.
A legitimate business owner should not have to wonder whether opening a restaurant, club or shack means becoming vulnerable to people demanding money.
But political leaders also have a responsibility. They cannot selectively speak about corruption and extortion when it suits their political narrative. If Palekar knows something, he should tell Goa what he knows.
This is not about BJP versus Congress. It is not about the government versus the Opposition. It is about whether an illegal parallel system is being allowed to operate in Goa.
Palekar has made the allegation. Now comes the more important part.
Name them.
If there is no evidence, withdraw the allegation. If there is evidence, place it before the police and the public. If there are victims, encourage them to come forward and ensure that they are protected.
Goa does not need another round of political accusations where everyone knows something but nobody knows anything officially.
The government must investigate. The police must act on credible information. And Palekar must provide the names and evidence behind his allegations.
Because if “every night is extortion night”, as Palekar claims, Goa deserves to know exactly who is collecting the money, who is protecting them and why the system has been allowed to continue.
