A barricade used to block the entrance at Azad Maidan on Monday.
PANAJI
Uproar erupted on Monday after the government imposed Section 163 in and around Azad Maidan, triggering sharp criticism from Opposition parties. The move came as authorities sought to thwart the Mirabag protesters’ planned march to Azad Maidan to intensify their agitation against the bandhara project.
Acting under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the District Magistrate of North Goa enforced the restrictions within the jurisdiction of the Panaji police station. The order specified that curbs will remain in force in and around Azad Maidan and adjoining localities from March 30, 2026, until further directives are issued.
Heavy police force was deployed at Azad Maidan, as authorities braced for the protesters’ planned shift of their agitation to Panaji.
The move drew sharp criticism from the Opposition leaders. Goa Congress president Amit Patkar alleged that the government is trying to suppress public voices. “The voice of Mirabag people cannot be crushed by arbitrary restrictions. Using prohibitory orders to intimidate citizens is a direct assault on democracy,” he said.
Patkar further stated that the administration must protect citizens’ rights instead of acting at the behest of those in power. “No matter the pressure, Goa’s voice will rise louder because it cannot and will not be silenced,” he added.
Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai also criticised the decision, terming the imposition of prohibitory orders as unacceptable and urging the Collector not to act as a “political stooge.”
AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik echoed similar concerns, calling the move “surprising” and alleging that the BJP-led government appeared “scared of its own shadow,” while cautioning the Chief Minister ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
