Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party Goa President Amit Palekar has strongly criticised Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and the BJP government following the tragic incident at a club in Arpora that claimed several lives.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s acknowledgement that the establishment had not followed safety norms, Palekar questioned how such major violations went unaddressed despite concerns being raised earlier, including in the Assembly. He said it was deeply troubling that the authorities failed to act even after clear indicators of non-compliance.
Palekar called for accountability from all departments and officials involved in granting permissions and oversight, including local bodies. He stated that the administration had failed to maintain control, allowing governance systems to weaken and creating conditions that led to the tragedy.
He further remarked that the Chief Minister had “lost the moral right to continue in office” due to the administration’s inability to enforce essential safety measures. Palekar urged the Prime Minister’s Office to take cognisance of what he described as a serious lapse in governance that resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
Describing the incident as a “dark day for Goa,” Palekar also raised questions about how the club secured a fire NOC despite the absence of a proper evacuation plan, indicating possible procedural failures.
He concluded that the tragedy highlights deep administrative shortcomings and stressed the need for transparent action to ensure justice and prevent such incidents in the future.
