PANAJI
Opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward Party (GFP), questioned the ruling party for holding a procession in the capital city of Panaji while Section 163 of the BNSS was in force. The measure prohibits public gatherings.
The North Goa District Magistrate had imposed the legal provision in view of the ‘Maha Andolan’ by villagers of Chimbel.
Opposition leaders meanwhile questioned the government as to how the BJP procession to welcome the party’s new national president, Nabin, was permitted.
Congress State chief Amit Patkar slammed the State administration and accused it of “selectively implementing” the law. AAP’s Valmiki Naik accused the BJP government of muzzling the voice of the people by misusing the law to hide the protest from the top BJP leader (Nabin).
But government sources denied selective enforcement of the prohibitory law and argued that the order of the District Magistrate was specific to the protest by the Chimbel villagers.
“Other planned processions were expressly exempted in the DM’s order issued on Thursday,” the official said.
