Medical interns' rustication on ganja should be revoked: Congress

Panaji: The Goa Congress's youth wing demanded the withdrawal of rustication of five interns of Goa Medical College (GMC), against whom the action was taken after cannabis was found in a common toilet of the hostel in the institution, IANS reported.

The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) president Varad Maerdholkar said in a press conference that the government has no right to spoil the five interns' careers since they were not booked by police. When FIR is against unknown people, GMC could not penalize the five interns for the matter, he argued.

"We demand that rustication should be revoked immediately, and the home department should find how the ganja reached into the campus," Mardolkar said.

He added that if the interns I question are consuming ganja (cannabis), the authorities should counsel them, taking them on the right path rather than destroying their careers.

On Saturday, the Goa Police registered a case on the matter, naming unknown persons, but the state Health Minister said that the five interns deserved to be prosecuted. "Five interns who were found in possession of drugs at GMC hostel campus will be rusticated, directions have been given to the Dean of @GoaGmc in this matter. I have also instructed him to issue a show-cause notice to the Warden and carry out a detailed investigation in this regard", health minister Vishwajit Rane had tweeted.

Mardolkar further said, "Earlier drugs were found only in the coastal areas, but now it has also reached villages. Police need to investigate thoroughly and nab those who supply it." He alleged that drugs trade n Goa flourished with the connivance of state police and government, which aimed to generate revenue through it.

"The BJP government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant are responsible for the drug trade. Now he should take responsibility and take action to eradicate the drug menace from the state," mardolkar added.