Harshita
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed his disappointment when he saw that the people are coming out of their houses just to but trivial things like shampoo. As his government was criticized for creating panic in the state, he justified why he imposed total lockdown with grocery stores being open for 24 hours.
"Those who need to step out to buy essential goods for the house, one person from the family should step out and buy it. We have seen that people even leave their homes during the lockdown to buy shampoo. This is just not necessary. If rice in the home is over, one can step out and buy it, but to step out just because you have no shampoo...! I have seen this," said Sawant on Sunday.
The Chief Minister also justified pressing in the CISF (he had earlier stated that the CRPF were being roped in) into law and order duties, even as videos of jawans of the central force beating people with sticks and publicly making them perform 'frog jumps' went viral on Sunday and triggered outrage on social media.
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He further stated that the CISF personnel have been drawn from the state's central force unit. He said, "The CISF has not come from Delhi. They were posted in Goa itself. We did not get them to punish people, We do not want to harass people. Law and order must be maintained."
"Unnecessarily youngsters take bikes out for a ride on the roads. If someone is out to buy milk, essentials or medicine, it is ok, but youngsters should not step out, because they may bring back coronavirus to their families," said the CM.
"CISF is a thoroughbred professional force. People are requested not to assess the force by the action of an overzealous man for being harsh on two persons. I just want to reassure people that from an isolated incident people should not form their opinion about CISF," said Sawant related to viral videos of assault by CISF personnel, Inspector General of Police Jaspal Singh.
