Panaji, Jul 20 (IANS): Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Monday petitioned Governor Satya Pal Malik to ask Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to issue a White Paper on the Goa government's preparedness to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Kamat also demanded another White Paper on the state's financial condition and the state economy's revival plan.

"There is total fear and anxiety in public mind in Goa about the spread of coronavirus and spike in Covid cases across the state. The Goa government has not come out with an action plan on the control and management of the pandemic till date," the former Chief Minister said in his letter.

"We are continuously demanding an action plan and White Paper on Covid management and its handling by the government. It is important that the government place all the facts and figures before the public and ask for their valuable suggestions," the letter read.

Goa has witnessed a spike in corona cases in the past few weeks.

Kamat said that one of the reasons for the confusion in the populace and "lack of confidence" in the state government's Covid-19 management efforts was "contradictory" comments by ministers and government officials.

"There are various instances wherein contradictions in statements and announcements by the ministers and authorities have led to confusions in people's minds and chaos in various areas, more particularly in containment zones and other restricted areas," the Congress leader alleged.

"There are also instances wherein certain local bodies have taken decisions on lockdowns and restrictions on movement of people without state government approvals and against Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines," he added.