PANAJI:
As hundreds of villagers staged a protest outside TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane’s Dona Paula residence demanding the scrapping of Section 39A of the TCP Act, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that while citizens have the democratic right to protest, such demonstrations must be held within the bounds of decorum and law.
While refusing to comment on the public demand regarding the scrapping of Section 39A, Sawant expressed displeasure over what he described as attempts to “hold the State to ransom” through such actions. He said protesting outside a minister’s private residence was not appropriate and amounted to "intrusion into individual privacy".
“No one has been prevented from exercising their democratic right to protest. However, protests must be conducted with decorum and without disturbing law and order,” the Chief Minister said.
He further cautioned that no one should take the law into their hands or “test the patience of the police,” adding that there are proper forums and established mechanisms to raise grievances.
“Concerns should be addressed through formal representations and appropriate platforms rather than through such actions,” he said appealing to elected representatives to maintain decorum and follow law.
Sawant reiterated that the government remains open to hearing public concerns, but stressed that demonstrations must adhere to legal norms and respect personal boundaries.
"I appeal to the Leader of Opposition, to raise the issue in the right forum and not to protest outside a minister’s residence," he said.
Sawant also said that the matter is in the Supreme Court.
"Viresh should talk to me on this issue. He had called me two days back but I had told him that he should maintain decorum of the government office. If any files go missing or something happens to the official staff, then who would be responsible. Our police, mamlatdar were requesting but he refused and said that police can lift him," Sawant said when asked about MLA alleging manhandled by police.
