MARGAO
Charges of “hafta” collection by municipal councillors echoed in the commercial capital on Tuesday after allegations that a councillor demanded hafta from a coconut vendor amounting to Rs 3,500 per month.
The councillor, however, termed the allegations as baseless, claiming that the charges are being made after the Margao municipal officials cracked a whip against illegal vendors.
Tuesday witnessed a resident Milagres Fernandes along with the tender coconut vendor levelling allegations against the City Father saying that the councillor along with another councillor had allegedly demanded hafta from the tender coconut vendor.
“This is a serious allegation made by the vendor and it should be probed by the authorities. This is what happens when people elect councillors on party banners,” he said.
Pointing out that people have been facing hardships to eke a living since the Covid pandemic, Milagres wondered why the poor vendors are being targeted, who earn a living by selling tender coconuts.
The coconut vendor has claimed that he has been doing the business for the last 8-9 years, adding that he was allegedly paying Rs 3,500 per month to the councillor for the last couple of months.
The councillor, however, has rubbished the allegations as baseless.
“These allegations have been made just because the vendor has been cleared by the Margao municipal workers. The allegations of hafta are all false,” the councillor said, even as he has demanded to know why the vendor would have been removed by the municipal workers if he was paying the hafta.MARGAO
