the goan I network
PANAJI
Around a dozen social activists from across the state on Monday gathered at Azad Maidan to request the government to implement the Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2011, in light of the incident involving Kashinath Shetye, a social activist from Ribandar who was assaulted last week.
“Social activists keep being attacked, and we would like the government to assure that everyone is protected under the Act,” Mahesh Nayak of Jai Damodar, told the media.
“The PDA and TCP are ruining our lands. We have to speak out against these things, without fear of being attacked,” insisted Damodar, adding, “We’ll keep opposing the government on policies we don’t agree with, but it is the government’s duty to give us protection, as whatever we protest against is for the good of Goa, and our future generations.”
Joining Damodar was Rui Da Gama from Asha Charitable Trust. “Constructive opposition is beneficial to the state,” said Da Gama, adding, “Whatever good has been happening in Goa over the years is not only happening in the Assembly, but starts on the streets with activists. Very often, the Opposition doesn’t speak up, but activists have always raised their voice.”
Further, those gathered said that whatever issues Shetye took up were being taken up through the legal route, and he was not doing anything wrong.
On July 1, three persons, identified by the police as Irshad Ahmed, Salman Hussain, and Shahid Khan, who attempted to assault Shetye, had been arrested by the Old Goa police.
The story goes that two vehicles had been parked in such a way in Ribandar that they were blocking the whole road, which is why Shetye took out his phone to click pictures of the cars to post them to the “traffic sentinel” app.
Old Goa PI Jivba Dalvi had said the persons had threatened to kill Shetye, and had restrained him.
After Shetye’s complaint, Old Goa police registered a complaint under Sections 341, 504, 352 r/w 34 of the IPC.
