DRUG PUSHING IS NOTHING NEW IN GOA

There may be many reasons why drug pushing has risen to the mafia level along the coastal areas of Goa. However, home minister Ravi Naik has an interesting explanation to give. "Drug pushing is going on for a long time. It's nothing new. But the local politicians never tried to stop this," Naik said during an interaction with the media on Friday.

The minister is of the view that if local politicians had to strongly oppose such nefarious activities, it would never have gone reached to the extent it is at now. He felt that if there was no encouragement at the local level, it might have even stopped long ago. In another sensational statement, the home minister remarked that even former smugglers have now joined the drug trade.

Referring to the present scenario, he stressed that it was because of his "cracking down on rave parties and drug dealers" politicians have turned against him.

Naik claimed that he is the first home minister who has taken action against drug mafia. "Fellows like Dudu and Atala have been in and out of Goa for long. Everybody knew this. But no action was taken. It is due to my committed efforts that Dudu was arrested and later Atala was put behind bars," he said

The home minister reiterated that he began to attract the ire of the political class only after he took action against drug dealers and rave parties. He said that with this action, some local politicians who were supporting such activities have stopped receiving haftas (protection money).

Naik however declined to name anyone. When reminded that he had promised to expose those involved, he said, "Wait for some time. When time comes, I will".

The minister also said that some politicos were not on very good terms with him as he refused to protect their vested interests. He meanwhile denied that there has been politicization of the state's police force as alleged by the Opposition.

When it was pointed out that ruling politicians too have supported the Opposition on police functioning and their alleged nexus with the drug mafia, Naik claimed that there was a conspiracy against him and that many persons are behind it.

To persistent queries on the issue, he felt it involved some members of both the Opposition and ruling party. "Some of them even ran a campaign and tried hard to get home portfolio divested from me," Naik said, while adding that others went up to the high command but didn't succeed.

"They used every opportunity to defame me and my family and make charges against my son," he said claiming that throughout his public career there has been no blot on him and his family members.

Replying to a volley of questions on the drug mafia, Naik said there is no case for a CBI inquiry.

Regarding other issues, he said the voters need to be educated in order to cleanse the electoral system. Unemployment, he felt, is the single major issue dogging the state even as he called for unity across the political class for the purpose of creating new employment opportunities so that youth don't have to move out of state in search of suitable employment.(TOI)