Drug mafia may be targeting me with sex scandal: Goa Minister

Panaji: Goa Fisheries Minister Vinod Palienkar, who is in the eye of an alleged sex scandal, on Monday said a smear campaign was being perpetrated against him because of his "uncompromising stand" against the drug mafia.

Palienkar's comments come soon after lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues said that he would be submitting to Governor Mridula Sinha contents of a video footage allegedly featuring Palienkar in a compromising position with a woman from his constituency.

Speaking to reporters, Palienkar said that the smear campaign against him could have resulted from his opposition to the drug mafia.

"If he (Rodrigues) says there is a CD, ask him for details. I do not know what to say? He has neither called me nor spoken to me. It is a public campaign. I believe this is happening because of my uncompromising stand and actions against the drug mafia," Palienkar told reporters here.

The Goa Forward party, whose three legislators are ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government, has also backed Palienkar over the controversy.

"My party president has already said the activist could be doing this on behalf of somebody in the drug mafia because of late he (Palienkar) has ruffled so many feathers of those in narcotics trafficking," chief spokesperson of the regional party Trajano D'Mello told IANS.

The activist Rodrigues, however, said that he would be providing a detailed submission to the Governor regarding the alleged sex scandal once she returns to Goa later this week.

"An appointment has been sought with the Governor," Rodrigues said while also demanding Palienkar's resignation.