MARGAO
Confusion still prevails in the city whether the Margao Municipal Committee-led Margao Shigmotsav Samiti or the Damu Naik-led Samiti will earn the privilege of organising the government-sponsored Shigmo parade in the commercial capital.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation chairman Nilesh Cabral told The Goan after Tuesday’s meeting that the government will take a final call on the organisation of the Shigmo in Margao city. “I have only heard the views and sentiments of the MMC-led committee and the Margao Shigmotsav Samiti. All these views will be conveyed to the government for appropriate action,” Cabral said, adding that all issues concerning the Shigmo parade will be resolved by the government in a day or two.
Replying to a question, Cabral admitted that the MMC-led Samiti was to organise the Shigmo parade, but at the same time added that the Council has been elected only recently. On the controversy surrounding the route, Cabral said that though the Carnival parade was shifted to the Old Market-Ravindra Bhavan route this year, the government will study whether the new route will be feasible for the Shigmo parade. “Anyway, the government will take a call on these contentious issues within a day or two,” Cabral added.
After the meeting convened by GTDC in Panaji on Tuesday evening, BJP leader Damu Naik exuded confidence that the Margao Shigmotsav Samiti headed by him will organise the Shigmo parade in the city on March 27 on Sunday.
The MMC-led Committee represented by Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik and members of the Shigmotsav Samiti, however, could not specifically state whether MMC will organise the government-sponsored Shigmo parade in the city.
Sources in the Municipality informed that the MMC-led Samiti appears uncertain and confused over the role it would play in the organisation of the Shigmo parade with the committee not receiving a clear cut message from Tuesday’s meeting.
