GPCC too demands judicial probe into violence

Panaji, Mar 6 (UNI) Concurring with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) too has demanded a judicial probe into last week's violence against minorities in South Goa.

The GPCC executive meeting, held at the Congress House today, unanimously resolved to urge the government to institute a judicial inquiry to ''unravel the root cause behind the incidents''.

The judicial probe was needed to expose the elements responsible for fomenting trouble, to determine the extent of damage caused, determine the role played by political and other leaders, and to bring the culprits to book, the meet resolved.

The meeting was chaired by the GPCC president Ravi Naik and attended by Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane and AICC special observer Siddharth Patil.

''The PCC hereby resolves to rededicate itself to the cause of communal harmony, secularism and democracy, and calls upon its rank and file to actively engage themselves in organising peace committees and extending all material and emotional support to the victims and to re-establish confidence in the minds of the victims to return to their homes and businesses,'' the resolution said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naik accused the BJP of trying to divide people in Goa on communal lines as part of its strategy to face elections next year.

The Congress has constituted a peace committee, headed by Panchayat Raj Minister, and comprising Cabinet colleagues and elders from different communities, for restoring peace and tranquility in the troubled areas, he added.

UNI BM MAZ VD PM1917