'BJP will probe Goa's drug mafia if voted to power'

Panaji, April 5 (IANS) The BJP will initiate a central government probe into Goa's drug mafia if voted to power, said three-time MP and the party's candidate for the North Goa seat Shripad Naik Saturday.

"I assure you I will get a CBI inquiry into the entire drug scenario in Goa once we form our government at the centre," the former union minister of state said, adding the drug menace was very real and needed to be rooted out from Goa.

Shripad Naik, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference in Panaji, denied allegations that he was going soft on his electoral rival and Congress candidate Ravi Naik, who has been indicted in a police-politician-drug mafia nexus by a legislative committee.

Asked why he was not targeting Ravi Naik, he said there was no need to indulge in negative campaigning.

"What he has done, he will suffer for it," the North Goa MP said, adding that he would also not seek any action on the drug nexus probe report until the elections are over.

Ravi Naik was also accused in open court by Fiona Mackeown, mother of sexually assaulted and slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling, of backing Goa's drug trade, a charge that he and his son Roy have denied.