Goa minister's take on drugs sparks row

Goa Minister Dayanand Mandrekar is at the centre of a row over his reported comment on availability of drugs in the state with the opposition parties like Congress and AAP attacking him over the issue saying it showed BJP government's "helplessness" in tackling the menace.
Mandrekar today said that he had only voiced concern that the drug problem have travelled to hinterlands and are not confined to beach belt.
"One of the journalists had asked me about drugs. I said there's no denying that drugs are available in the state. We have to find a solution to this problem."
"I had said that it's a matter of concern that drugs have travelled to hinterlands. There's a wrong perception that drugs are only in the beach belt. The government is working to solve this problem," the Art and Culture Minister said.

Reacting to the minister's comments, AAP's state unit said, "The report in the press has vindicated the stand taken by Arvind Kejriwal that tourism in Goa is linked to drugs and other illicit dealings."
"The government has acknowledged that drugs are available everywhere and it is helpless, as per the minister's statement. AAP demands to know why the government is helpless with the state machinery?" AAP said in a statement.

"If the government is not in a position to act then it has no right to remain in power," it said.
In his maiden rally in Goa recently, Kejriwal had said, "Tourism in Goa is suffering. The state has turned into drugs, sex and gambling destination under the BJP government".

Taking exception to Kejriwal's statement, the BJP had demanded his apology.
"With the government acknowledging and accepting that the drugs issue is prevalent in the state, shouldn't BJP president apologies?" AAP said.
The Congress also criticised BJP over the issue.
"The minister's statement that drugs are available openly in Goa is taking the state backward and not taking it forward," GPCC secretary Durgadas Kamat said.
"Anti-Narcotic Cell should now question the minister as his constituency itself is narcotics trade prone," he said.
Newly-formed Goa Forward party president Prabhakar Timblo said, "Dayanand Mandrekar pleading total helplessness on drug trade shows that the lobby has caught hold of the tentacles in police, politics and administration.