VALPOI
After being stopped by authorities twice in different villages in Sattari on Monday, the Revolutionary Goans Party’s (RGP) padyatra to create awareness on the Mhadei issue encountered further tensions on Tuesday when the Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) and all panchayats petitioned the Deputy Collector not to allow the padyatra in Sattari.
In their petition to Deputy Collector Praveen Parab, the local bodies have stated that RGP’s padyatra could lead to law and order problems in Sattari.
Tensions over the padyatra began shortly after it started from Thane village. The padyatra was stopped at Mauxi after the local panchayat objected to the rally. The padyatra was later stopped yet again at Koparde after police claimed some locals had complained about the possibility of law and order problem if the padyatra was allowed to enter their village.
A fresh confrontation ensued with the administration officials, with Parab and Borkar demanding to know the names of locals who had opposed their padyatra and as a protest, squatted on the road. They were engaged in discussion with Deputy Collector Praveen Parab till late night.
The RGP leaders and their supporter left the site only after being told that a meeting was convened at 3 pm on Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, panchayat members of all panchayats in Sattari along with VMC Chairperson Sehzeen Sheikh submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector, objecting to the RGP padyatra in Sattari as it could lead to tensions and a law and order problem.
After submitting their petition, Morle Sarpanch Amit Shirodkar told media persons that they are against the padyatra in Sattari, on account of tensions on Monday.
“The people of Sattari are fully aware about the Mhadei issue and there is no need to tell the people of Sattari taluka through the padyatra,” said Shirodkar.
Honda Sarpanch Shivdas Madkar sought to know whether the Mhadei issue would be resolved with the padyatra.
“Outsiders from Sattari taluka need not give lessons to the people of Sattari, who have the ability to protect the Mhadei River. We have full faith in the role of our MLAs Vishwajit Rane and Deviya Rane as they are capable of handling the matter,” said Madkar.
Nagargao Sarpanch Sandhya Khadilkar, Bhironda Sarpanch Udaysingh Rane and Pissurlem Sarpanch Devanand Parab also spoke on the occasion.
Sarpanch and panch members of all panchayats of Sattari Taluka were present on this occasion. Sarpanchas Diksha Gawas (Keri), Rati Gaonkar (Poriem), Somnath Kale (Mauxi), Ujwala Gawkar (Sawarde), Namdev Rane (Khotoda), Nitesh Gawde (Guleli) and Sarita Gaonkar (Thane) were also present at the interaction with media persons.
