CANACONA
Did confusion over a single letter lead to group clashes and ugly scenes moments before the Shigmo parade at Char-Rasta in Canacona on Thursday evening?
According to the ruling group at Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), the order listing out the Canacona Shigmo committee was issued by the tourism department on March 22, but it reached the CMC office only on April 6, barely a day before the Canacona Shigmo parade.
Adding further confusion was that the Shigmo committee list had missed out the name of the CMC chairperson, further angering the ruling group at the council.
According to sources, what has angered the Canacona Municipal Council chairperson Prathana Naik “ chairperson of the reception committee and the organising chairperson of the Shigmo committee - was the order issued by the tourism department dated March 22
“The order was received by CMC 15 days later on April 6 and it only carried the names of the Canacona Shigmotsav Committee chairman and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, secretary Sarvanand Bhagat and treasurer Mahesh Naik. It did not include the CMC chairperson, despite being the first citizen where the event was being held,” said the source.
Added former CMC chairperson Ramakant Naik Gaunkar, who is the husband of the CMC chairperson, “The manner in which elected people were sidelined by the organising committee will not be tolerated in future.”
Former minister Isidore Fernandes told The Goan that “the Shigmo floats is a government event and not a BJP party activity to give it selective patronage. If people at the helm of affairs can be ignored for political mileage, it's too bad for the people.”
On the other hand, Canacona Shigmotsav Committee secretary, Sarvanand Bhagat sought to downplay the controversy, admitting that the official letter of the tourism department many have caused some confusion.
“We tried our best to clarify the situation, with organising chairman Rajendra Dessai and reception committee chairperson Prathana Naik Gaunkar. Everything seems to have been resolved on Thursday afternoon,” said Bhagat.
Supporting Bhagat, Canacona Block BJP vice-president Sanjay Komarpant rejected claims that they tried to extract political mileage from the event.
“We did not gain any political mileage. All the names of committee and sub-committee members are never mentioned in the government order, except for the three names of the main committee.
“The Shigmotsav committee treasurer had personally submitted the tourism department order some days ago to the CMC, but unfortunately they failed to stamp it on that day. They made a non-issue of the matter at the last moment by levelling allegations,” said Komarpant.
