the goan I network
PANAJI
Amidst high drama, the State administration aborted its move to shift fasting activist Rajan Ghate to the Goa Medical College on Friday evening.
Ghate, who has been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan refused to budge when police personnel came along with an ambulance to shift him to GMC. He is fasting for the eighth consecutive day demanding that ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hand over charge to any other active minister so that the administration which he claims is paralyzed starts functioning again.
It all began at around 6.30 pm on Friday when Panaji SDPO Nelson Albuquerque and Police Inspector arrived with an order from North Goa district magistrate, Levinson Martins, to shift the activist to the GMC. Ghate however told the officials he was ‘fine’ and did not want to go.
Activist Tara Kerkar and Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress president Pratima Cutinho and others who were at the spot also opposed Ghate’s shifting to GMC, saying he is stable.
The police officers and team relented only after the EMRI services doctors and paramedics checked his health parameters and found him stable. The police also took a written undertaking from Coutinho, who also demanded that government provide a doctor to check on Ghate’s health.
The supporters of Ghate, meanwhile criticised Martins for issuing orders to shift Ghate.
“This is autocracy of the Government. Shaken because Ghate’s strike is getting public support the government has taken this step”, Coutinho said.
Martins in his order cited the medical reports of Ghate to direct his shifting to the GMC. His order states that Goa Medical College doctors who were monitoring Ghate’s health on a daily basis in their medical report on November 21 and 22 advised urgent admission for administration of intravenous nutrition.
Martins said in his order that he was forced to issue such an order as the attempt of the deputy collector and Sub divisional magistrate to persuade Ghate to withdraw the hunger strike failed.
Parrikar, who is battling advanced pancreatic cancer, has been confined to his private residence since he returned from AIIMS in Delhi on October 15. His physical absence from office has given rise to the perception that the administration is paralyzed and some of his own cabinet colleagues have begun publicly airing the view.
Ghate: I have not demanded the resignation of Parrikar
PANAJI: Rajan Ghate has made it clear that he is not demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar but that he hand over charge of the administration to any other capable minister temporarily till his health condition improves.
Ghate told the media that he could not help it if individuals who visit him in solidarity demand the the CM’s resignation. “But I have never demanded his resignation. I can’t stop people who are sitting next to me from making any demands. But they are not my demands,” Ghate said.
Meet to demand CM’s resignation
at Azad Maidan today
PANAJI: Citizens for Restoration of Governance in Goa led by Adv Aires Rodrigues will be having a public meeting on November 24 at 5 pm at Azad Maidan. The meeting is set to be presided over by cardiologist Dr Francisco Colaco. This will be the launch of a series of protests to be held in all twelve talukas to coerce the Chief Minister into resigning, informed Adv Rodrigues, addressing the press at Azad Maidan on Friday.
