Goa BJP hits back with ex-CM's photos with rave party accused

Panaji, Aug 18 (IANS) It was the turn of the ruling BJP on Tuesday to embarrass the Opposition leaders, with their photos along with a small-time Bollywood actor Kapil Jhaveri, who was arrested on Sunday for organising a rave party from where drugs worth Rs 9 lakh were also seized.After the Congress on Monday accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Co-operation Minister Govind Gaude of having close links with Jhaveri, following photos of the arrested actor which emerged on social media with the politicians, the BJP on Tuesday struck back with photos of the same person with Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat."What about these photos where Jhaveri is seen with Kamat and his former OSD Prakash Velip, when the former was CM? What were the linkages between them and Jhaveri?" BJP state spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik said on Tuesday.Twenty three persons, including three foreigners in possession of drugs, were arrested following a Crime Branch raid in the early hours of Sunday at a posh villa complex in Anjuna beach village, where the rave party was held.Jhaveri, who was one of those arrested, is currently in police custody.Sawant in a statement on Monday had clarified that his photo with Jhaveri was taken soon after he took over as Chief Minister last year, when the actor called on him, after seeking a formal appointment.Dattaprasad Naik, during the press conference on Tuesday said that the police raid in fact was proof that there were no linkages between Jhaveri and the state BJP leadership."Police have been given a free hand. If there was no free hand there would have been no raid on this rave party in which 23 persons were arrested," Naik said.
--IANS maya/bg