VASCO
Activists in the port town have slammed the government's decision to impose Section 144 on public gatherings only during religious festivals, when thousands of tourists are enjoying parties and other events all over the State. Activists are also wondering why Section 144 is not imposed on large number of people visiting the casinos.
Speaking to media persons, social activist Vikram Sarmalkar said that is no restriction on people enteing Goa while other states are beefing up security checks on borders considering the rising Covid cases.
"Anyone can enter Goa and party and flock on the beaches. People are allowed to enter casinos despite those vessels reporting Covid cases but anyone wanting to peacefully celebrate Holi or Easter or Ramazan will be prohibited citing Section 144. We want to know why the government is restricting only religious festivals while tourists are allowed a free hand to do what they want in Goa," said Sarmalkar.
Another social Activist Pritam Naik said that Shigmo parades should not have been cancelled but held in a restricted manner.
"Though we agree that the spread of Covid has to be stopped but we also feel that Section 144 has to be implemented on all and not only on peaceful Goans. Section 144 has to be relaxed while ensuring that there is no overcrowding," he said
Today the government has cancelled Shigmo parades but inaugurated a Hunar Hath fair in Panaji which is bound to attract a large crowd. Flights are coming fully loaded with tourists, there is no restriction. Shigmo could have definitely been celebrated in a subdued manner to help Goan talent instead of showcasing artists from all over the country in exhibitions, said Naik.
Social worker and outgoing councillor Sandesh Mesta demanded that local artists who had prepared floats for Shigmotsav be compensated by the government. "It was the Government which announced Shigmo parade in a few places after which days and nights were spent to prepare the mythological floats. Now with Section 144 all's in vain. The government should consider either having Shigmo parade in a subdued manner or compensate the artists."
Cancelling Shigmo is targeting Bahujan Samaj again: Girish
PANAJI: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President (GPCC) Girish Chodankar on Sunday alleged that the BJP government has targeted Bahujan Samaj again by cancelling the traditional festival of Shigmotsav citing Covid pandemic.
“Ironically, the irresponsible BJP Government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has not restricted itself from organizing programmess to project Modi and BJP,” Chodankar charged Girish Chodankar.
The GPCC president said that if the government was so much concerned about public health, it could have restricted public movement during Shigmo parades by making arrangements to televise live Shigmo romtamel and chitrarath parades instead.
“The photos posted by CM Sawant holding meetings with Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad with almost everyone without masks as well as with Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi at opening of ‘Hunar Haat’ at Kala Academy in Campal, Panaji exposes his fake concern for people’s health,” Chodankar said while adding that the government’s failure to control the influx of tourists and its refusal to call off government-sponsored public events further prove the accusations.
Congress accused CM Sawant of taking forward the anti-bahujan agenda and legacy of former CM Manohar Parrikar. “The construction of Parrikar’s memorial at Miramar next to the samadhi of the tallest leader of bahujan samaj late Bhausaheb Bandodkar is with the same intention of portraying Parrikar above Bandodkar,” GPCC president stated.
