People’s power prevails at Calangute gram sabha

the goan I network
MAPUSA
People’s voice prevailed in Calangute on Sunday after locals stood their ground for more than an hour and a half and forced Sarpanch, Anthony Menezes to adjourn the gram sabha. 
Majority of the villagers demanded postponement of the gram sabha as the panchayat secretary was not present for the meeting. 
A local, Jose Braganza set the ball rolling demanding deferring of the meeting as several proposals to be discussed at the gram sabha were rejected by the secretary. 
“If you want to suppress the voice of the people then what is the point of holding the gram sabha?” Braganza asked. 
Another local, Premanand Diukar said that minutes of the last gram sabha were not recorded properly and more importantly the secretary who was at fault was not present. 
“Today’s gram sabha is meaningless and should be adjourned and reconvened for another day,” Diukar opined. 
Later speaking to The Goan, Diukar said several proposals to be discussed at the gram sabha were rejected by the pancahayat secretary. 
“People had sent proposals on PDA. People had also put proposals on the ODP. Those proposals have been rejected by the secretary. One way the government is saying through gram sabha we have given powers to the people to plan and develop. We also celebrated the gram swaraj abhiyan recently…But it appears people’s powers are suppressed,” Diukar said. 
Caught off guard and unable to pacify the gathering, the sarpanch began to confabulate with his colleagues and the stand-in secretary. 
Repeated appeals by the sarpanch to start the gram sabha fell on deaf ears as locals refused to budge and demanded nothing short of adjournment of the gram sabha. 
Former panch member, Clotilda Braganza appealed to the sarpanch to give in to public demand. 
“Sarpanch you are saying you are with the people. People want the gram sabha to be adjourned. So, please adjourn the gram sabha,” Braganza said. 
Finally, at around 12.20 pm, the sarpanch announced cancellation of the gram sabha amidst loud cheers. 
“We are adjourning this meeting now. We will refer the matter to the BDO and the next date will be announced,” Menezes said amidst huge applause. 
Surprisingly, former Calangute sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira was present for the gram sabha meeting seated among the locals in the rear end of the hall. 
However, he did not speak a word at the meeting.