the goan I network
PANAJI
Stating that the Chief Minister was not in a state to meet the citizens who marched to his residence seeking an audience with him on Tuesday, sub-divisional magistrate Shashank Tripathi IAS, met the citizens in the CM’s stead.
A delegation of around 100 citizens, including Congress leaders, led by Adv Aires Rodrigues and Dr Francisco Colaço, attempted to have a face-to-face interaction with the CM. However, they were prevented from entering the premises of the CM’s building in Dona Paula by an equally-strong police force that was stationed there.
“I accept your representation on behalf of the District Administration, and I assure you that I will convey it to the honourable Chief Minister,” Tripathi told the waiting crowd, even as he refused to comment about whether the CM was aware that citizens were waiting to meet him or not.
“The Chief Minister’s Office is aware of the situation,” said Tripathi, when asked if the CM was aware about the delegation waiting to meet him.
“I am only instructed to accept the representation,” he added.
When pressed about the CM’s health, he said, “I am not a doctor so I cannot comment.”
Meanwhile, Adv Rodrigues told Tripathi that the CM had an ultimatum of 48 hours to hand over his powers, failing which Rodrigues promised a statewide agitation to “secure the CM’s resignation.”
He was vocal in his allegations that the CM was “physically incapacitated”, while cardiologist Dr Colaço said that citizens’ blood was boiling and that the administration was playing the fool with Goans.
Dr Colaço also referred to “Madam in Dona Paula” being a “puppet” and said that Goans were most angry with her. The demonstration was a peaceful one, with protesters shouting slogans in Konkani“ “CM nidla, Goenkar aatan utla.”
When not allowed to go beyond a point because of the police force, the protesters began singing “Aiz yetolo, falyan yetolo, paavan-paavana.” (The CM is supposed to come for a long time now, but there’s no sign of him).
The peaceful protest started near the International Center Goa at around 4 in the afternoon, and was joined in by Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, many Congress MLAs and Congress party workers, members of the NCP, and members of some NGOs.
Protestors walked carrying the banner, “Peoples March for Restoration of Governance in Goa.”
Fearing trouble just before the start of the International Film Festival of Goa, the Director General of Police himself came to the scene to check that there was no law and order problem.
Politicos, citizens visit Ghate at Azad Maidan, join in with one-day fast
PANAJi: The fifth day of RTI activist Rajan Ghate’s strike at Azad Maidan saw various politicians and citizens visiting him, with several of them supporting Ghate with a one-day fast.
Upset with the total collapse in administration in the state, Ghate pointed out that no one from the government had come to see how he was doing, neither had they sent a doctor to check on him.
Meanwhile, a group of concerned citizens, led by Judith Almeida, who had met the governor on October 31 demanding a working CM, came out in support of Ghate, even as they said they would petition the Prime Minister and President of India to ask for a full-time CM.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Ghate was also visited by
the Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and other Congress MLAs.
