the goan I network
OLD GOA
Upset over the politics of compromise in the Santa Cruz panchayat for the sake of power, a group of villagers staged a black flag protest against the ruling dispensation of the panchayat, even as the no confidence motion against Deputy Sarpanch Lafira Oliveira was underway on Thursday.
It may be recalled that the villagers had convened a public meeting on Sunday and speakers had lambasted the elevation of Disha Kavlekar to the sarpanch’s post and had demanded that anybody other than Kavlekar should be made the sarpanch. The villagers fear that Kavlekar as sarpanch would compromise the fight of the villagers to save Bondvoll lake.
Shouting slogans during their protest, the agitators renewed their demand for the removal of Kavlekar on Thursday, while also lambasting the ruling dispensation for the no-trust motion against Oliveira.
“The ruling panel has compromised on the issue of Bondvoll lake as sarpanch Kavlekar is related to the tenant. She will have access to the files and there is every possibility that these could go missing,” activist Arturo D’Souza informed.
“Let them make anybody else as sarpanch, but not Kavlekar,” he added.
Sarpanch Kavlekar, however, said all issues pertaining to Bondvoll lake are in the court.
“So let law take its own course. If the panchayat receives any correspondence on Bondvoll lake in the future, I won’t be able to participate as I am one of the interested parties,” she said.
Meanwhile, a large police team from Old Goa Police Station led by PI Sudesh Velip and PSI Priyanka Sawant was present to maintain law
and order.
Oliveira ousted as St Cruz Deputy Sarpanch
the goan I network
OLD GOA
Santa Cruz Deputy Sarpanch Lafira de Oliveira was ousted as the no confidence motion against her was passed by 6-5 votes at a special meeting in the panchayat office on Thursday.
Sarpanch Disha Kavlekar, Indira Fernandes, Lawrence Rodrigues, Prasad Naik, Namdev Naik and Marian Araujo voted in favour of the motion, while Oliveira, Nilesh Kankonkar, Shilpa Bandodkar, Antonio Edwin Dias and Sonu de Araujo voted
against it.
Later, speaking to the media, Oliveira pooh poohed the reasons outlined in the no-confidence motion that she was not taking panchas into confidence and indulging in promotion of illegalities.
“When I asked the six panchas to prove allegations levelled against me, they did not have any answers,” Oliveira informed, while stating that she occupied the post of acting sarpanch for only
seven days.
“So the question of indulging in illegalities and not taking panchas in confidence does not arise,” she added.
“On the contrary, I was against various issues which would prove detrimental to the village, which is why I was ousted.”
Panch Edwin Dias also challenged to prove allegations against Oliveira and that he would resign as panch, if done so.
“Don’t spoil her name only for the sake of power,” Dias stated.
On the other hand, the ruling panel panchas said Oliveira, who was on their panel, had switched sides to move a no-confidence motion against Marian Araujo and hence, she was ousted.
“She switched sides without any reason and hence, the no trust was moved,” Panch Namdev Naik said.
Former sarpanch Marian Araujo also stated that the allegations made against him were baseless.
“Did anyone have proof then,” he opined while referring to the no-trust motion that was moved against him resulting in his ouster.
“This is only a political game,” he went on to add.
