Goa MLA makes bizarre remarks in assembly, says cut off hands of those accused of graft

Panaji: Goa opposition MLA Naresh Sawal has made a controversial statement in the state assembly by saying the hands of those accused of corruption should be chopped off.

Sawal made the demand in the Goa Assembly. "If the government is serious about acting against corruption, then they should cut off the hands of those who are corrupt," independent MLA from Bicholim Naresh Sawal said.

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government of going slow on curbing corruption.

Reacting to Sawal's charge, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar asked Sawal to exercise caution while making statements in the assembly.

"It looks like the MLA has come with his sword unsheathed. This is a democracy and in a democracy, even if a person is known as an established criminal or a cheat, it has to proven so.''

"You cannot cut off the hands of thieves. This is a democracy. He should realise that," Parsekar said, adding that his government was serious about eradication corruption.