the goan I network
Porvorim
High drama and chaotic situation marred Congress workers and leaders’ visit to meet the Education Director Vandana Rao to seek clarification regarding non-payment of salaries to primary teachers and also those of North and Central zone.
The Congress workers, under the leadership of Adv Pratima Coutinho, were not allowed by police to meet the Education Director. They were stopped at the entrance and only two people were allowed inside.
However, they did not agree and demanded all the workers should be allowed to meet her. Finally, after discussing the matter with the Director, Police agreed to allow 10 members inside. The Congress workers then demanded that journalist should also be allowed to enter the Director’s cabin. This too was allowed.
Finally the delegation of Congress workers and the journalists journalist called on the Education Director and sought clarification from her on the delay in releasing the payment to primary teachers.
Rao told the Congress workers that due to the re-appropriation of budget there was delay in releasing the payments. She said in a couple of days the payments would be will be released and asked the workers to leave the office as she wanted to attend some urgent work. Having felt insulted by the word ‘get out’, the Congress workers came out of the cabin, sat on the floor and demanded that the Education Director should apologise.
They started shouting slogans after which the police tried to persuade them to leave. But the workers did not budge and insisted that Rao says sorry.
Finally, the police were forced to arrest the Congress workers Adv Pratima Coutinho, Nitin Patekar, Roshani Gawas, E Mulla, Janardan Bhandari, Bharat Mardolkar, Vivek D’Silva, Vishal Volvoikar, Glen Gabriel and Shiney Oliveira.
They were taken to the Porvorim police station and later released.
