Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Raises Alarm Over Urban Naxalite Activity
In a significant statement on Saturday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant asserted that urban naxalites are present within the state and are actively working to instigate specific individuals to create unrest. Speaking at a state-level conference to disseminate the outcomes of the 2025 Directors General and Inspectors General of Police conference, Sawant, who also serves as the Home Minister, emphasized the covert nature of this threat.
"We Cannot Name Those Who Are Urban Naxalites"
"Who says there are no urban naxalites in Goa? We cannot name those who are urban naxalites. They are working in the state and trying to instigate people," Sawant declared during his address. He directly tasked government officers, particularly the police, with the responsibility of countering this movement. "The chief minister should act? It is your duty to nullify the movement. It is your duty to do it," he stated, shifting the onus onto the administrative machinery.
Focus on Tourism Safety and Government Accountability
Beyond the security concerns, the Chief Minister also addressed issues related to Goa's vital tourism industry. He noted that tourism-related incidents have been reported and stressed the need to avoid such occurrences in the future. Sawant urged government officers to propose various steps and reforms to prevent these incidents, underscoring the government's commitment to the safety and security of both citizens and tourists.
Sawant expressed frustration with critics, pointing out that many enjoy criticizing the government without offering solutions. "There are a lot of people who love to criticise the chief minister and enjoy it. It is your responsibility to come up with solutions to those problems. People come to Azad Maidan and criticise govt," he remarked.
Call for Departmental Initiative and Improved Coordination
The Chief Minister defended his administration, stating that he acts promptly and does not commit mistakes, but emphasized that action must originate from the concerned departments. "All give bad words to the chief minister, but actually the departments concerned should act. Most times I send the inputs to the department to act. This should come from the departments," he explained.
He questioned why his intervention is often necessary when issues should be resolved at the level of Superintendents of Police and Deputy Superintendents. Sawant called for enhanced coordination among all officials to improve the state's image, especially with numerous international events taking place in Goa. "It is the duty of officers to work to improve the state’s image at the national and global level," he concluded, highlighting the broader goal of projecting Goa positively on the world stage.
