VALPOI
Stepping up their protest against the proposed IIT project at Shel-Melauli, a large group of locals marched to the Guleli panchayat on Thursday and clashed with panchayat members for failing to issue a letter objecting to the project.
On August 31, those opposing the IIT project had gone to the Guleli Panchayat body and had demanded a letter from the panchayat, expressing its opposition to the project. The Panchayat had said it would consider their request by Thursday.
A larger number of protestors first gathered outside the government school at about 10 am and then marched to the panchayat at about 12 noon to enquire about the panchayat letter.
A five-member delegation led by Shubham Shivolkar, convener of the anti-IIT movement, met the Panchayat body and accused the panchayat members trying to deceive the protesters.
Guleli Sarpanch Sarpanch Apoorva Chari along with other panch members clarified that the panchayat was not authorised and empowered to issue such a letter.This angered the protestors and tense moments prevailed outside the panchayat office.
As the situation turned tense, Sattari Deputy Collector Mangaldas Gavkar rushed to the site. Joint Mamlatdar Sanjeevani Satardekar, Valpoi Police Inspector Sagar Ekoskar, Bicholim Police Inspector Sanjay Dalvi and a large police force were also present at the site to prevent the situation from going out of control.
The protestors warned Sarpanch Apoorva Chari, Deputy Sarpanch Nitsh Gawde, Panch members Vitthal Kaskar, Asmita Melekar and Vinod Gavkar, who were present at the Panchayat office, not to leave the premises unless they submitted a letter to the protestors.
A police team then escorted Chari out of the panchayat office at around 2.30 pm and some women protestors tried to confront her. However, the police prevented any untoward incident and took the sarpanch to her house under tight security.
Later speaking to reporters, Shubham Shivolkar accused the Panchayat of trying to take away the rights of the people.“The panch members have been elected by voters and if people are opposing the project, it is the moral responsibility of all panchayat members to support this movement,” said Shivolkar.
When contacted, Guleli Sarpanch Sarpanch Apoorva Chari said Shivolkar and some residents had gone to the panchayat office on August 31.
“They demanded a letter on the panchayat letterhead expressing the panchayat’s opposition to the project. We told them that the panchayat would discuss the matter and take a decision by September 3.”
“Today (Thursday) morning, when Shivolkar visited the office to enquire about the letter, he was informed that the authority to issue such a letter did not lie with the panchayat,” said Chari.
3 held for IIT agitation
VALPOI: Three members of Revolutionary Goans were arrested by Valpoi Police in connection with the protest against the IIT at Guleli on Thursday.
According to sources, Valpoi police arrested Manoj Parab, Veeresh Borkar and one Alex of Revolutionary Goans on charges of inciting the agitation.
