MARGAO
In a major development, the South Goa district authorities have revoked the permission granted to the Popular Front of India to hold a grand conference "We also have something to say" scheduled at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday, at 3 pm.
After Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao Uday Prabhudesai revoked the sound permission granted for the organisation, the Margao Municipal Council is believed to have followed suit by withdrawing the permission to hold the conference at the Lohia Maidan.
With the
SDM revoking the sound permission granted to the PFI just two days before the conference scheduled on Sunday, PFI Goa unit president Sheikh Iftiyaz and vice-president Sheikh Abdul Rauf called on the district Collector, Anjali Sehrawat and district police chief Arvind Gawas, on Friday evening with a plea to reconsider the decision.
The administration's action comes two days after citizens under the banner of Desh Premi petitioned to the district Collector, South to revoke the permission granted to the PFI to hold the grand conference at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday.
Iftiyaz told The Goan that the SDM has revoked the sound permission based on a report filed by the Goa police anticipating law and order problem during the conference. The SDM has apparently acted based on a report submitted by the police, recommending revocation of the permission granted to the organisers to hold the conference. "After we were communicated of the order revoking the permission, I along with PFI members called on the district Collector, South Anjali Sehrawat with a plea to reconsider the decision. The Collector explained that the district administration has arrived to the decision to revoke the sound permission based on a police report," Iftiyaz said.
When asked why the PFI activists had called on the district police chief Arvind Gawas, on Friday evening, he said the activists had tried to convince the district police chief that the conference will not result in any security or law and order issue. "We explained to SP Gawas that the district administration was ready to reconsider the decision to revoke the permission provided the police files a positive report."
Though the stakes are loaded against the organisation, with the SDM revoking the sound permission and the MMC withdrawing the venue permission, Iftiyaz, however, said he has not lost hope in the conference taking place on Sunday. With the authorities revoking the permission, the PFI activists now pin their hopes on the powers that be as they plan to call on the political leaders with a last ditch attempt to hold the programme on Sunday.
The PFI had called for the grand conference to refute what they called as baseless allegations levelled by the right-wing forces that the organisation needs to be banned for it's alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
The administration's action comes two days after citizens under the banner of Desh Premi petitioned to the district Collector, South to revoke the permission granted to the PFI to hold the grand conference at the Lohia Maidan on Sunday.
Iftiyaz told The Goan that the SDM has revoked the sound permission based on a report filed by the Goa police anticipating law and order problem during the conference. The SDM has apparently acted based on a report submitted by the police, recommending revocation of the permission granted to the organisers to hold the conference. "After we were communicated of the order revoking the permission, I along with PFI members called on the district Collector, South Anjali Sehrawat with a plea to reconsider the decision. The Collector explained that the district administration has arrived to the decision to revoke the sound permission based on a police report," Iftiyaz said.
When asked why the PFI activists had called on the district police chief Arvind Gawas, on Friday evening, he said the activists had tried to convince the district police chief that the conference will not result in any security or law and order issue. "We explained to SP Gawas that the district administration was ready to reconsider the decision to revoke the permission provided the police files a positive report."
Though the stakes are loaded against the organisation, with the SDM revoking the sound permission and the MMC withdrawing the venue permission, Iftiyaz, however, said he has not lost hope in the conference taking place on Sunday. With the authorities revoking the permission, the PFI activists now pin their hopes on the powers that be as they plan to call on the political leaders with a last ditch attempt to hold the programme on Sunday.
The PFI had called for the grand conference to refute what they called as baseless allegations levelled by the right-wing forces that the organisation needs to be banned for it's alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
