Valpoi (Goa) The drugs related controversy is going to haunt Congress party in Valpoi constituency for the ensuing by-election where it has fielded former State home minister’s Ravi Naik’s son Roy in the fray.
The election for Valpoi by-poll is scheduled on August 23, and the results would be announced on August 28.
“Whatever controversies that are related to Roy we will answer them during the election campaigining,” Goa Congress Chief Shantaram Naik told the press conference this week, responding to the volley of questions posed by Journalists.
“If anybody has made allegations against Roy, they should come forward and substantiate their claim. Let them do it before the law,” he said today adding that the party’s plank in Valpoi constituency would be to expose the mis-rule of BJP.
BJP has fielded State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in this constituency for the by-election.
Roy was in the news in the past after Swedish Model Lucky Farmhouse accused him of protecting the drug trade during the tenure of his father as State Home minister.
Farmhouse was a girlfriend of Israeli national Yaniv Benaim who was arrested by State police in connection with the drug trade. Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager, Scarlett Eden Keeling, had also made a statement before Goa Children’s Court claiming that Roy was protecting the drug lobby.
Scarlett’s bruised corpse was found at Anjuna shore in 2008.
Roy was also named in the House Committee led by former legislator Fransisco Pacheco in its report submitted to the State Legislative Assembly probing the drug nexus.
“We were expecting Congress to give a non-controversial face this election. Moreover, Roy is not a local face,” said Parvin Sheikh, Chaiperson, Valpoi Municipal council.
Sheikh, who is a former Congress leader, said that the party which has lost its steam after exit of Rane, should have properly built their organization before contesting the election.
“The image of candidate certainly plays a major role when it comes to voting in Valpoi constituency,” said Sayyad Sarfaraj, Vice Chairman, Valpoi Municipal council.
He said that the Congress should have fielded a non-tainted candidate in the fray. “The concerns are raised even in the State legislative assembly about advent of narcotics in our villages. Under such circumstances, the Congress should have avoided the candidate with such background,” he said.
Roy was not available for his comments despite several attempts.
Goa Forward Party’s chief spokesman Trajano D’Mello told reporters today that the popular sentiments of people in Goa is against family raj and Congress has gone against the wish of people by giving ticket to son of Congress leader.
“Congress should learn lessons from the past and could have avoided to field a person who has been often named in various reports,” he said.
Team TNV