OLD GOA
As RGP MLA Viresh Borkar was stopped by the police from going to the Deputy Town Planner's office in Panaji on Thursday with authorities citing a law and order situation, the MLA and his supporters protested outside the building gate for over two hours.
The protest was held over the incomplete inspection by the TCP at Bambolim on Wednesday and also against all other projects in St Andre constituency which have been approved by showing proposed roads.
Finally, as MLA Borkar expressed dissatisfaction over not being allowed inside and held a symbolic ritual called 'pind daan' which is normally done after someone's death.
Later speaking to reporters, Borkar said that he had only come to meet the Tiswadi Deputy Town Planner to ask him questions about Wednesday's inspection of the Bambolim project in which the TCP official walked off without completing the inspection.
"But, I have been stopped at the gate and it looks like the officials and the government have something to hide about the project," Borkar stated. "The inspection remained incomplete and I have every right to question the TCP officials on the incomplete inspection," he added.
"But instead of allowing me inside, a massive police force was deployed to stop me and my supporters from entering the building," Borkar decried, while slamming the action as "undemocratic".
The police authorities, though, informed the MLA that only two persons could be allowed to meet the Deputy Town planner. But Borkar was adamant that all should be allowed as they too had their respective issues to be discussed.
The deadlock continued for a while and later, the MLA demanded that the TCP official, who conducted the Bambolim project inspection be brought to answer their questions. As the official arrived, the MLA again questioned him whether the inspection was completed or not. But the official said that he would submit the report to the higher officials as well as the MLA.
He then walked off as he said that he had already answered, which only infuriated the MLA who then sat on a sit-in protest outside the building gate. Finally, with nothing happening a ritual of final rites called 'Pind Daan' was organised as the MLA opined that the TCP department was dead.
