Panaji:- Leaders of Goa’s opposition parties, President of Goa Forward Party, Vijai Sardesai, Congress Party MLA Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira, and President of Goa Aam Aadmi Party Advocate Amit Palyekar, held a joint press conference today, launching a scathing attack on the government for its alleged intimidation tactics and attempts to cover up the cash-for-jobs scam. Terming the detention of Congress leaders for protesting at Azad Maidan against the cash for job scam as unconditional they condemned the government action as an attempt to silence the opposition and cover up the scam.
GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai accused the government of using the police to intimidate opposition leaders, citing a recent incident where police officers visited his private farmhouse. He questioned whether such actions were meant to instill fear in the opposition and distract from the 47 individuals named by the accused in the job scam. Sardesai alleged that while the police are quick to investigate opposition members, they are giving clean chits to those implicated in the scam. He highlighted that even senior BJP leaders Sudin Dhavlikar and Babush Monserrate have expressed their discontent over the scandal. Sardesai called the scam “Vyapam 2” and warned the government against suppressing dissent. He urged officials and police not to become complicit in covering up the scam, emphasizing that the opposition would not be deterred and would seek justice through the courts if necessary.
Congress MLA Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira criticized the government for its undemocratic actions, including detaining Congress leaders under the BSNS Act and banning them from holding protests for three months. He slammed the magistrate responsible for issuing the order, claiming it was illegal and done at the behest of the government. Ferreira cited Supreme Court rulings that guarantee the fundamental right to protest and declared that the magistrate’s actions were unconstitutional and liable for legal action. He compared the government’s behavior to Nazi Germany, accusing it of suppressing dissent and turning the police into a Gestapo-like force. Ferreira vowed to challenge and overturn such undemocratic orders, ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights.
AAP President Advocate Amit Palyekar alleged that the police have been monitoring opposition leaders, following them and even keeping their calls under surveillance. He claimed that his clients had received calls from the police, creating an atmosphere of fear. Palyekar reiterated the opposition’s demand for an inquiry into the scam by a judicial commission, accusing the government of directing the accused to return bribe money in an attempt to hush up the matter. He also alleged that key individuals named by the accused, including an “empress” and a non-uniformed police officer, remain uninvestigated. Palyekar raised suspicions over the death of an intermediary, Satarkar, suggesting it was not a suicide but a forced act orchestrated by the police to divert attention.
The opposition leaders accused the BJP of attempting to divert public attention by polarizing society along religious lines. They appealed to the people of Goa to join the fight against corruption, asserting that the cash-for-jobs scam is one of the biggest scandals in recent years. They reaffirmed their demand for a judicial inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability, calling on the police to investigate the call records of key individuals involved in the scam. The opposition pledged to continue their pursuit of justice and to expose the truth behind the scam, urging Goans to stand united in this fight.
