BJP Has Turned Goa Into A Hub Of Drug Peddlers: Revanth Reddy
CM likens Congress to Rama and BJP to Ravana
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday accused the BJP government in Goa of failing to curb drug trafficking and questioned why the Centre's 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' campaign, promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, had not been effectively implemented in the state.
Addressing a public meeting following the 'Goy Rakhonn Yatra' (Save Goa March), a 27-day campaign launched by the Congress on September 22 to protect Goa's land, environment, identity and heritage ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, Revanth Reddy said the Congress would eradicate the drug menace if voted to power.
“Similar to Goa, Telangana was also facing the drug menace. After taking office, I formed the EAGLE force to keep in check and eradicate the drugs. When we found that the source of these drugs was Goa, I sent our EAGLE team which launched a crackdown and nabbed drug peddlers,” he explained.
Revanth Reddy questioned Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over his government's response to drug trafficking despite having access to state and Central enforcement agencies.
“Goa has transformed into a hub of drugs. What is stopping Pramod Sawant from initiating action, when the entire state and Central agencies are at your disposal? Why haven't the Prime Minister and the Union home minister, who speak of a 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' failed to implement that vision here?” he asked.
Revanth Reddy also accused the BJP of attempting to divide Congress votes through smaller parties and alleged that the names of poor voters were being deleted from electoral rolls.
He alleged that the BJP had earlier used investigative agencies, including the Income Tax department, Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, for electoral advantage. He further accused the party of using Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to influence elections.
“The people of Goa are fed up with the BJP. If the BJP comes to power for a third time, the people of Goa risk becoming strangers in their own land, as lands are being alienated and transferred to others. People here are calling the Goa CM not 'Pramod Sawant', but 'Property Sawant'. Instead of developing Goa, the Chief Minister is busy handing over local assets to others,” he cautioned.
Revanth Reddy urged voters to support the Congress, claiming that votes cast for smaller parties would indirectly benefit the BJP. “The people of Goa have already been deceived twice and cannot afford to get deceived a third time by BJP. While Rahul Gandhi is trying to unite the people of the nation, Modi is trying to divide them. Should drug lords and the land mafia be allowed to rule Goa? Just think about it. This is a battle between Ravana and Rama,” the Chief Minister underlined.
He compared the electoral contest in Goa to a battle between Rama and Ravana, describing the Congress as Rama and the BJP as Ravana.
Revanth Reddy said he was attending the programme on behalf of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who could not participate in the padayatra due to intensified protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the SIR exercise.