A group of residents demonstrate in Sanguem on Friday.
Residents from Sanguem, particularly those residing in the town, have appealed to the South Goa Collector to immediately withdraw the externment proceeding notice issued to Sanguem Councillor Messiah Da Costa alias Meshu D’Costa, failing which they have threatened to lead a statewide agitation against authorities.
At a news conference in Sanguem on Friday, the residents assured their full support to Meshu D’Costa and sought to know what criminal background did D’Costa have, for authorities to issue the externment proceeding notice.
They asked authorities if Dcosta had committed any grievous crime to be issued with such a notice.
“We have seen D’Costa working for people for last several years and we fail to understand the logic behind issuing a notice of externment proceedings against D’Costa by the South Goa Collector under Goa Maintenance of Public Order and Safety Act 1988,” said Oliver Fernandes.
“It is mockery of law and the collector should not blindly go with the proceedings filed by the police, who have allegedly acted at the behest of a politician to seek revenge against D’Costa,” claimed Fernandes.
Another citizen, Dolly Fernandes, claimed the proceedings, now fixed on November 29, was highly unwarranted.
“D’Costa has been fighting for public causes and not for personal gains,” charged Fernandes and sought a proper inquiry into the matter by the Collector.
Casmira Dias accused the police of filing false complaints against D’Costa only to defame him.
Philip Furtado appealed to the South Goa collector to understand the ground realities and the good work that D’Costa has been doing in Sanguem not only in the town area but throughout Sanguem constituency.
“He is not a bad person as is otherwise being projected by the men in uniform but has been a saviour to the people from Sanguem,” said Furtado.
