Rane blames BJP govt of acting like Gestapo

Panaji: Leader of opposition in Goa assembly Pratapsingh Rane on Friday accused the BJP-led coalition government in the state of acting like the infamous Gestapo in Nazi Germany.

Rane said this against the backdrop of Louis Berger bribery scam issue, while making a statement at the start of the day's proceedings during the ongoing monsoon session of Goa assembly.

"Is this a democracy or is this a Gestapo? The government should stop providing this kind of information or spreading rumours. If we believe in the democratic values of this country, then this should stop," Rane said, also accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government of character assassination of legislators.

Demanding a reply from Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Rane also accused the government of harassing political opponents citing the "midnight arrest" of Churchill Alemao, a former Public Works Department (PWD) minister in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case.

While Alemao was arrested on Wednesday, the crime branch of Goa police has questioned former chief minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat in connection with the case.

(IANS)