MARGAO
A day after the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao revoked permission for its grand conference scheduled at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday, the Popular Front of India on Saturday said the organisation will knock the doors of the Judiciary to obtain the permission to hold the conference if the authorities do not reconsider nd allow it to hold the conference on Sunday as scheduled.
While exuding confidence that the district authorities will reconsider the decision to revoke the permission granted for the organisation to hold the conference at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday, PFI leader Sheikh Abdul Rauf said, "If the authorities do not reconsider the decision to revoke the permission, we will resort to democratic means by approaching the High Court with a plea to grant permission to hold the conference at Margao."
Condemning what he termed as attempts made by certain vested interests to stifle voice of the people in the country, Sheikh reminded that India is a democratic country and that the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. He also sounded critical that the SDM, Margao has not assigned any reason behind the decision to revoke the sound permission granted to PFI
to hold conference on Sunday.
"The SDM had issued the sound permission on October 20 after the Margao Municipal Council had issue the venue permission on October 8. We are law abiding citizens and we had never in the past held any programme without the permission of the authorities," he said.
PFI activists made a concerned bid on Saturday to convince the authorities to reconsider the decision to revoke the permission. A delegation had gone to the Collectorate to meet district Collector, Anjali Sehrawat, but since her office was closed it being a Saturday, they
spoke to her telephonically with a plea to reconsider the decision.
While the PFI activists have exuded confidence that the authorities will allow them to hold the conference at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday evening as scheduled, Margao police, however, on Saturday evening ruled out the question of reconsidering the decision.
Cops deployed at Lohia
Maidan to maintain vigil
MARGAO
Margao police deployed personnel at the historic Lohia Maidan on Saturday to foil any attempt by any organisation to set up any stage or put up posters at the venue ahead of Sunday's grand conference by the Popular Front of India after the authorities had revoked venue and sound permission for the organisers.
Four police constables were drafted by the Margao police to maintain vigil at the Lohia Maidan Saturday night and ensure that no banner or posters are put up at the venue by any organisation or individual.
When The Goan contacted Margao police station in-charge, PI C L Patil to shed light on the police presence at the Lohia Maidan on Saturday evening, he said that the police has been posted at the historic maidan as a precautionary measure to foil any attempt by any organisation or individual to put up any banners or posters inside the venue.
Sources said the police have decided to maintain vigil in and around the Lohia Maidan on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
