MARGAO
The historic Lohia Maidan from where nationalist Ram Manohar Lohia gave a clarion call for Goa’s Liberation from Portuguese rule is back in the news again.
If the pathetic state of the historic maidan has earned the Margao civic body flak over its upkeep and maintenance, citizens now cry foul over what they call as attempts by the local municipality to curb freedom of speech and expression.
In fact, Margao Municipal Council’s decision to insist on citizens to first give a security deposit of Rs 10,000 (refundable) before obtaining permission to use the Lohia Maidan for public meetings or any event has stirred a hornet’s nest with the civil society slamming the civic body for attempting to muzzle free speech and expression. The citizens have now threatened to hold a dharna right in front of the MMC building if the civic body doesn’t roll back the security deposit condition within eight days.
President of Jai Damodar Association Mahesh Nayak said he had booked the Lohia Maidan to hold a meeting on March 23, only to find the MMC writing a letter insisting that he pay Rs 500 as rent towards the use of the maidan, besides a Rs 10,000 security deposit (refundable). “How can the civic body insist on a security deposit of Rs 10,000 from citizens. We have no objection if the civic body charges a rent of Rs 500 for a meeting, but insisting on a security deposit only indicates that it has plans to deny the maidan for public meteings,” Mahesh protested.
Social activist Laurel Abranches echoed similar sentiments. “This is unfair and against the spirit of democracy. The only thing the MMC wants to achieve by insisting on security deposit is to make the maidan unavailable for citizens to hold public meetings,” he said.
Activist Felix Dias made it clear that the present government along with the MMC is trying to stifle the freedom of speech of citizens. “We will not take this lying down. We will go ahead with our plan of agitation in the event the MMC doesn’t consider roll back of the security deposit.”
