Youth arrested for asking Goa health minister about unemployment

Panaji, April 19

A youth was arrested in North Goa’s Valpoi constituency soon after he questioned Vishwajit Rane, an MLA and the coastal state’s Health Minister, about unemployment.

The incident took place on Thursday night during a meeting held to discuss BJP’s North Goa Lok Sabha candidate Shripad Naik’s campaign.

Gaonkar had asked Rane why he had not been provided a job despite being the minister’s active supporter for more than a decade. “I only asked him why I was not given a job despite being promised one for years. At the meeting I was only raising a question about a job promise made to me by the minister, which was not kept and I was arrested after the meeting ended,” Gaonkar told the media on Friday.

He was booked under Section 151 of the CrPC by officials at the Valpoi police station and later released on bail.

Rane has not commented on the development, but sources close to the minister said: “There is a way to put up a question. Darshan was unruly and was instigated by the opposition to embarrass everyone and cause chaos. Perhaps someone filed a complaint against him.”

The Congress on Friday condemned the incident accusing the BJP of misusing its power. “This is how the BJP is misusing its power and it shows its frustration. This can happen only when the Chief Minister who is the Home Minister is misusing the police. The Congress condemns this action,” Congress spokesperson Trajano D’Mello said. IANS