Demands transfer of RO, Dy Collector; seeks probe into PI’s call records
Goa Forward leader Vikash Bhagat and others addressing the media on the Gaondongrim episode.
MARGAO
After a confrontation at the party’s meeting at Gaondongrim-Canacona on Saturday, the Goa Forward Party has demanded immediate transfer of the Returning Officer as well as the Deputy Collector, Canacona and action against the Canacona police station in-charge, PI Harish Raut Desai.
The party demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant order an inquiry into the episode and check the call details of the Canacona police station in-charge to find out under whose instructions the police were acting at the meeting hall.
Addressing the media, Goa Forward party leader Vikas Bhagat along with Canacona block president Datta Gaonkar condemned what he termed as highhandedness by the police in entering the meeting hall and disconnecting the sound system.
That’s not all. He condemned the action by the police officer in not allowing the meeting to proceed without the sound system, saying this goes to show that the police was acting at the instructions of the political masters.
Bhagat pointed out that the Returning Officer for Poinguinim ZP seat and the Deputy Collector, Canacona were found abdicating their responsibilities on the question of issuing sound permission for the meeting at Gaondongrim.
“The Chief Minister will say that the government has no role to play in the episode. If this is the case, then the CM should order checking of the call details of the police officer’s phone,” he said.
Saying that the Goa Forward party will not be cowed down by pressure tactics from the government machinery, Bhagat said the Gaondongrim episode only goes to show that the government is upset over the tremendous response the Goa Forward party’s candidate Prashant Naik is gaining in the Poinguinim ZP seat.
He urged the State Election Commission to immediately transfer or replace the Returning Officer for the Poinguinim ZP seat and the transfer of the Deputy Collector, Canacona, besides action against PI Harish Raut Desai to ensure free and fair ZP election.
