Cong demands drug probe against BJP leaders

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant must order an inquiry into the allegations about drugs made by Pernem BJP MLA Pravin Arlekar and former Pernem BJP MLA Manohar Ajgaonkar, Congress said on Thursday. The party demanded that Sawant take action against the BJP leaders, warning of a police complaint if no action is taken within eight days.Congress MP Captain Viriato Fernandes (Retd) said the remarks of Arlekar and Ajgaonkar prove that Goa has become the “drug capital of India,” leading to a decline in tourism.“We are not the ones who made the allegations. It is a former BJP MLA and the present BJP MLA from Pernem who are talking about crime and drugs. Babu Ajgaonkar, being a BJP leader and an ex-minister, is blaming the CM and admitting that there is a law and order problem. He said that criminals are not afraid of the police,” said Fernandes.The party’s chief spokesperson in Goa, Amarnath Panjikar, said that if Sawant has Goa’s best interests at heart, he would initiate a detailed investigation into drug trafficking in the state.“If the CM is concerned about Goa and wants to do something beneficial, then he should listen to our plea to launch an investigation into the allegations made by both his party colleagues. And if this does not happen, then we will file a case,” said Panjikar.