NCP General Secretary, Sanjay Barde along with other party leaders is addressing the media in Mapusa on Friday. Captured by : Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
Censuring the government for ignoring the demands of the lifeguards, the General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sanjay Barde on Friday said the lifeguards will hold a silent protest during the flag hoisting ceremony on the Liberation Day at the Hutatma Chowk, Mapusa.
“Apart from the 60 lifeguards who are on fast unto death near the Gandhi Chowk in Mapusa, the remaining lifeguards will assemble and peacefully protest near the Hutatma Chowk by saluting the national tricolour on the occasion of the Goa Liberation Day,” Barde said.
The NCP general secretary was addressing a news conference in Mapusa along with other members of the party.
Speaking further, Barde said the BJP-led government has been hiring people on contract basis instead of giving jobs to unemployed youth of Goa.
“In many departments, the government has taken people on contract basis. Earlier, the Congress government was also taking staff on contract basis but it would be around 20 percent but today this government is taking 100 percent staff on contract,” he said.
The protesting lifeguards were earlier recruited by Dristhi Marine, a private agency hired by the government to man the Goa’s coastline.
The lifeguards who have been claiming harassment at the hands of Drishti have been demanding the State government to take over their recruitment.
Barde also slammed the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) mayor’s statement to ban agitation at Azad Maidan in the heart of Panaji.
“We will not allow Uday Madkaikar to do dadagiri. Who is he to tell us not to hold protests at Azad Maidan? We will hold agitations at the historic maidan and will see who comes to stop us,” he hit back.
