Panaji, Jan 18 (IANS): Leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Goa legislature Mickky Pacheco Monday said that Home Minister Ravi Naik was providing protection to the drug trade in the state.

Mickky also blamed Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for rampant drug trade in Goa, because "the buck stopped with the chief minister".

Addressing a press conference late Monday after a meeting with the NCP state executive, Mickky said that Naik should be sacked and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe should be initiated into the police-politician-drug mafia nexus case.

He said Naik was a part of the nexus.

"The entire police department and the home ministry is involved in drug trade. He should be sacked from the home ministry," Pacheco said.

"Despite the fact that police officers are being caught on camera selling drugs, there is no action being taken against them because the home minister is also involved," said Pacheco.

The NCP leader is a former tourism minister. He was part of the Congress-led coalition government in the state. The NCP, along with another regional party, is a coalition partner in the Kamat-led government.

"The NCP has been demanding that the drug nexus issue should be handed over to the CBI but the government is averse to doing so. Why are they so worried? Let the truth come out," said the controversial legislator, who has a host of criminal cases ranging from extortion, bigamy and assault filed against him.

When asked why Kamat was not taking action against Naik, the NCP legislator said: "The drug issue means money. Money shuts mouths... that is why everyone is quiet," Pacheco said.