PANAJI
In a development which is expected to raise the heckles of the organisers, including civil society activists from across the State and Opposition parties, the Sanquelim Municipal Council on Thursday revoked the permission granted to hold the public rally on its grounds on January 16.
The event was billed as a mega rally by an umbrella organisation of civil society and activists to 'Save Mhadei' and had the backing of most Opposition parties.
Earlier, municipality had granted the permission for the January 16 rally to one Aditya Bhange, but the Chief Officer Kabir Shirgaonkar wrote to him on Thursday revoking the permission.
Shirgaonkar cited apprehensions that it would cause public inconvenience and commotion as it is also the day on which the weekly bazaar is held in the town.
The January 16 event was being billed as a massive show of public anger and a mark of protest against Karnataka's plans to divert the Mhadei waters.
OPPOSITION SLAMS GOVERNMENT
MARGAO: Revocation of the permission to hold the Mhadei rally at Sanquelim evoked sharp shock and outrage from Salcete-based Legislators, with Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai and Aam Admi Party MLA Venzy Viegas slamming the action.
Condemning the decision, Sardesai took to social media, saying Opinion strangled on Opinion Poll Day. “Revoking permission for the people’s rally is beyond human comprehension. Goa is not free. Goans aren’t free. The man who killed Mhadei has killed democracy too. Pramod Sawant has blood on his hands”, Sardesai asserted.
The AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas also took to the social media to condemn the action. “On Legislator’s Day, you waxed eloquent saying Bivpachi garaz na. Why then in Sanquelim, your home constituency, the permission already granted for public meeting on Opinion Poll Day is revoked. Now, Bhivpachi garaz assa. Dr Pramod Sawantji”, Venzy stated, indicating the anger and outrage triggered by the decision to revoke permission to hold the rally on Mhadei on Opinion Poll Day on January 16.
