Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SS)

Panaji, May 16: A day after eight new COVID-19 cases were reported in Goa, the Congress party said that chief minister Pramod Sawant’s handling of the pandemic is ‘defective’ and called for the governor, Satya Pal Malik’s intervention.

State Congress president Girish Chodankar commented that everything starting from thermal guns and rapid testing kits to the management of the disease have turned out to be defective, which is the reason the state has active COVID-19 cases again. He further added that the responsibility of this new development is completely on the CM.

He accused the BJP government of 'making a fortune' during the pandemic and of the office bearers indulging in corrupt practices since the beginning of the lockdown.

Independent MLA, Rohan Khaunte also supported this by saying that the chief minister often ignores suggestions given by the opposition. He added that only after meetings with the governor do things move forward.

Khaunte, along with the Goa Forward Party, conducted a meeting with Malik last week to address certain concerns they had, particularly regarding the repatriation of seafarers.

Meanwhile, the Congress claims that they shall collect documents to expose the corruption in the procurement of thermal guns, rapid testing kits and other medical equipment purchased through the emergency route to fight the pandemic. Chodankar said that there is also corruption in the various mobile apps launched by the government.