MARGAO
Former Dy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar aka Babu Ajgaonkar flexed his muscle in Congress-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat’s fiefdom as he took out a morcha to the BJP-controlled Margao Municipal Council after shutting down the Municipal-owned Gandhi market on Tuesday.
At the Margao Municipal building, Babu and hundreds of supporters squatted on the building stairs after they found the Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar and the Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar conspicuous by their absence.
And, when the Municipal civic chief finally made his presence felt in the Municipal building, Babu listed out a charter of demands plaguing the Municipal-owned Gandhi market for redressal. And, before returning back to the Gandhi market, Babu conveyed a message to the MMC chairperson that he should work independently as the civic chief and not to take orders from the Margao MLA in the discharge of his duties.
Hundreds of Gandhi market vendors led by the Ajgaonkar brothers Babu and Rajendra and Margao Municipal councillor Dr Ronita Ajgaonkar marched on the streets of Margao on Tuesday morning after shutting the Municipal-owned Gandhi market.
They had come to lodge their protest over the Margao Municipal inaction on a host of issues, including delay in cracking a whip against illegal vendors doing business around the markets, affecting the business activities of the vendors inside.
He point blank reminded the civic chief Damu Shirodkar that he is ruling the civic body and not the Margao MLA, telling him not to get influenced by the dictates of the local MLA. The former Dy Chief Minister made the statement after he sought to know from the MMC chairperson why the Council did not accept the resolution moved by councillor Dr Ronita Ajgaonkar for repairs of the Gandhi market.
After Shirodkar maintained that MLA Kamat has mooted a proposal for the renovation of the entire Gandhi market through the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), Ajgaonkar said the chairperson should take independent decisions than coming under the influence of the Margao MLA.
Ajgaonkar also raised the issue of illegal vendors doing business outside the markets, saying the presence of illegal vendors has affected the business of the Gandhi market vendors.
Ajgaonkar’s charge assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that a new sopo collection contractor, owing allegiance to the Margao MLA, has started sopo collection in the city from this month.
Even as the former Dy CM insisted on action against the illegal vendors and business activities, Chairperson Shirodkar pointed out that he is ready to act against the vendors on condition politicians do not make telephonic calls to stop the drive.
Amongst the host of demands placed by Ajgaonkar before the MMC Chairperson and Chief Officer, includes the illumination of the Gandhi market shed for the ST community, transfer of sopo shops, etc.
He also raised the issue of the Chor Bazar and migrant vendors doing business at the Comunidade square and the Sadekar lane, demanding action against the illegal vendors.
