PANAJI
The police personnel play a big role in the conduct of free and fair polls and they should be given preferential treatment when it comes to their basic needs like food.
But it was not to be at the Tiswadi counting centre at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium as the cops had to make their own arrangements for breakfast and lunch.
Many cops informed The Goan that they have arrived at the counting centre in early morning but were deprived of food.
“In the morning when the breakfast came, many cops were deprived of the same as the packets were insufficient. For lunch also, it was the same story and we were told that the lunch packets were only for the polling staff stationed inside the counting centre. Therefore, we had no choice but to buy our lunch,” a cop informed.
“We are also humans and we cannot do our duty continuously for several hours without having food,” another cop added.
Meanwhile, the candidates too voiced their displeasure over being called very early in the morning at the counting centre.
“We were called at 7 am and till noon time we are waiting for the turn of our panchayat to be taken up for counting. Further, there is no provision over here for taking a quick snack and we cannot communicate to our supporters to bring food as our phones are not allowed inside,” complained former sarpanch of Se Old Goa Vinayak Phadte.
“They could have easily given a time slot for the panchayats so as to enable the candidates of the respective panchayats to come at the allotted time. But here we are waiting from morning without food and water, and still, there is no sign of our panchayat counting being taken up,” a visibly upset Phadte.
Further Phadte voiced displeasure over the sudden change in the order of the panchayats being taken up for counting.
“Initially, there was a list put up of the order of the panchayats which will be taken up for counting. Later, they changed it and said that the counting will be taken up as per the alphabetical order which means that our panchayat i.e. Se Old Goa panchayat will be taken up at the end,” he stated.
