the goan I network
MAPUSA
Chaotic scenes prevailed at Calangute gram sabha after restive villagers refused to allow local MLA, Michael Lobo to address the meeting on Sunday.
Lobo, however, made a valiant effort to speak but his voice was drowned amidst the din, as a section of the locals booed and jeered him throughout his 10-minute speech.
The gram sabha, which began on a sedate note turned belligerent soon after Sarpanch Shawn Martins invited Lobo to speak about the development in the village.
Agitated locals opposed the move and refused to let the local MLA speak. Several villagers even rushed to the dais urging the sarpanch not to set a bad precedent.
Former sarpanch Joseph Sequeira was heard saying that Lobo was not a member of the Calangute gram sabha and therefore could not speak.
“He cannot actively participate in the gram sabha because he is not a voter of Calangute. Nowhere in the agenda has it has been stated that the local MLA will be present and addressing the gram sabha,” Sequeira countered. “The Sarpanch can reply on development, not the MLA,” he added.
Former panch member Clotilda Braganza also said that the local MLA had no scope to speak in the gram sabha.
A local, Premanand Divkar said that although Lobo was the local MLA he was not a voter of Calangute and therefor eas per Panchayat Raj Act could not address the meet.
“This has happened for the first time in the history of Calangute gram sabha. It’s unconstitutional,” Divkar said.
Amidst the pandemonium that lasted for almost 40 minutes, and sensing the mood of the locals, the sarpanch adjourned the gram sabha at 12.45 pm to be reconvened at 1.15 pm.
When the gram sabha was reconvened the sarpanch said that it has been decided that the MLA will address the gram sabha.
The moment the sarpanch gave his ruling, the gram sabha again dissolved into chaos.
For a moment, the police had to intervene restraining the locals from moving menacingly towards the dais where the local MLA and panch members were seated. Lobo addressed the gram sabha for about six minutes but he was barely heard above the chaos and the din.
While addressing the gathering, the local MLA said that a bunch of opponents who had lost the elections were trying to silence him.
“Only 300 people are present here. I have been elected by over 12,000 voters of Calangute,” Lobo was heard saying at the top of his voice. He also announced that government has sanctioned funds of Rs 200 crore for the development of Calangute.
Calm was restored soon after the MLA left the hall and the gram sabha then continued its normal business taking up other matters on the agenda.
Several issues were taken up in the meeting which ended well very late in the evening.
