BJP misusing cops: Congress ---------------------------------------------- Internal memo leaked, state swings into action
BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 22 -- Releasing evidence, the Congress today charged the Manohar Parrikar government of 'misusing' the police machinery for political gains and demanded its dismissal. GPCC president, Luizinho Faleiro, said the party would be writing to the Governor and the President, demanding the dismissal of the State government. Mr Faleiro released a copy of a 'memo' issued by an assistant sub-inspector of the Mapusa CID Centre, V K Yeram, which urged his subordinates to collect intelligence of political developments and activities of specific politicians, including Congress MLAs Dayanand Narvekar and Jitendra Deshprabhu and former Mandrem MLA, Ramakant Khalap. The March 4 'memo' was issued by ASI Yeram to his subordinates, Head Constables Ganesh Talavnekar and P P Parab, who covered the beat in Mandrem, Aldona and Dhargal constituencies. It also asked sub-ordinate personnel to mark activities of non-BJP political parties, including the Congress, MGP, Janata Dal, Kruti Nagrik Samiti and the activities of villagers of Mopa. "The police in Goa has been reduced to a `gestapo' for the use of Goa's Hitler who goes by the name of Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar," the GPCC chief said, adding that this was only the tip of the iceberg. "It is fascism of the worst kind," Mr Faleiro said, and repeated the charge that the government was also clandestinely resorting to the tapping of Opposition politicians' telephones. Mr Faleiro claimed that Mr Parrikar has reached a point of desperation because realisation has dawned that the doom of his party candidates in the Lok Sabha elections will jolt his government as it will make his allies nervous. He said, the Congress condemns this "shameful act" of keeping surveillance on political opponents which is against all democratic norms. "Mr Parrikar is trying to take undue advantage of his position as CM of Goa," Mr Faleiro said, adding that diligent officers were being terrorised to toe the line. Congress party spokesman, Jitendra Deshprabhu, who was also present at the press conference, meanwhile, said no amount of autocractic behaviour of Mr Parrikar and his government would cow down Opposition MLAs and leaders. "In these elections, we will challenge this government and expose its despotic ways. We along with our allies will ensure the defeat of the BJP," Mr Deshprabhu said. --------- ASI suspended BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 22 -- The police department swung into action and suspended assistant sub-inspector V K Yeram hours after the Congress protested against a `memo' issued by him to keep surveillance of political activities of certain Congress politicians. Director General of Police, Seva Dass, also announced a probe into the entire episode which will be conducted by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Muktesh Chander. Mr Seva Dass told a press conference here that ASI Yeram had "obviously" exceeded his powers in issuing the memo. "No such memos are issued at the CID centre level. Instructions if any are issued by the CID Special Branch from its centre at the headquarters," Mr Dass said. He said, it was the routine task of the CID special branch to collect all information on political activities that could have bearing on the law-and-order situation. "We have to submit a report in this regard to the Election Commission on a daily basis," Mr Dass said, adding however that there was no question of selectively reporting activities of only certain political parties. Meanwhile, the chief minister it is learnt on being informed by his informers (official and unofficial ones) about the expose made by the Congress, summoned top police officers for a damage control exercise soon after the Congress' press conference was over. Senior officials attached to the CID Crime branch were asked to report to the headquarters immediately from Dona Paula where the office is located for the last six months. There was a flurry of activity and the chief minister was closeted with his `advisors' and police officers in a bid to wriggle out of the situation. In the first step, the ASI Yeram allegedly became a scapegoat. Perhaps, realising that this move was not very convincing, the chief minister himself addressed a press conference at 9.30 pm. CM to request EC to conduct probe BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 22 -- Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, while reacting to the Congress charge of misusing the police machinery said he will request the Election Commission to conduct an independent inquiry into the Mapusa CID Centre episode to find out if there was a conspiracy to defame his government. Addressing a press conference late tonight, Mr Parrikar said: "The concerned Assistant Sub-Inspector concerned does not even know English. How can he have issued such a memo in English?" He said the `memo' was obviously drafted for him by someone else. "Prima-facie it appears that there is a conspiracy to defame the government because the Opposition has no other issues," Mr Parrikar said. Pointing out that the Election Commission team is arriving in Goa tomorrow, Mr Parrikar said the timing of the Congress' charge also indicates the possibility of a conspiracy. "The Congress appears to be having some affection for constables. They had toppled the Chandrashekar government because of two constables," Mr Parrikar said. The chief minister said that the senior police hierarchy was directly under the control of the Election Commission during the election process and that there was no question of the government misusing the law-and-order machinery. (ENDS) ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
