PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers led by the party’s Goa leadership took out a morcha demanding the resignation of Goa’s Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant at Azad Maidan, Panaji on Wednesday.
Claiming that people of Goa were disillusioned with the ruling party and other parties as well, AAP volunteers alleged that though they were protesting peacefully, the State police illegally detained them.
The AAP morcha was a call given by the party to its Goa supporters to gather at Azad Maidan at 2 pm to protest against the ruling BJP party’s head of the State.
It may be recalled that the former Goa Governor Satyapal Malik had alleged corruption in the Goa government. Videos of the detained AAP volunteers singing in the police van went viral, with the AAP vice-president uploading a selfie of his team displaying willingness to face the music.
According to Rahul Mhambre, convenor, AAP Goa, the party was given an ultimatum either to promise not to take out any protest or be denied bail, and he declined to do so.
Mhambre asked the arrested party volunteers to go on a Satyagraha. The AAP volunteers sang patriotic songs in front of the Agassaim police station and shouted slogans, asking Goa CM to resign.
Many more volunteers joined the crowd outside the police station, shouting, ‘We shall overcome’ and ‘Resign Pramod Sawant’. The AAP volunteers were also seen questioning the police force.
“Finally, the protestors were released,” claimed Mhambre, adding, “We want to tell the Chief Minister that he cannot cow us. He cannot scare us and he cannot intimidate us.
AAP Goa vice-president Adv Pratima Coutinho told media, “today we are fighting for every Goenkar who has lost someone during the pandemic. For every Goenkar who is shocked by the sheer greed of the Sawant Sarkar”.
AAP Taleigao Assembly in-charge and National Youth vice-president Cecille Rodrigues, said, “Sawant has no moral right to continue as CM after the truth behind his corruption has come to light. AAP will not stop till he resigns”.
AAP Goa vice-president Venzy Viegas, said, “Goenkars will never forgive Sawant nor the MLAs who out of their greed sold Goa at its time of need”.
There was another protest at the Panaji KTC bus stand later during the day.
