MARGAO
Saying the no-confidence motion tabled by the 15 Margao councillors is the fallout of the swearing by the city fathers at the Zambaulim temple, former MMC chairperson and convenor of Shadow Council for Margao said expressed concern that the leaders have been unnecessarily dragging the Gods in their dubious schemes.
"I have been part of the council for nearly 20 years as a councillor, with two terms as the Chairperson. So also several chairpersons have been elected and removed during the last several decades. But not once did we have to swear on the sacred coconut, either to seek support or to withdraw support," Coutinho lamented.
He added: “The mockery of God displayed by our State representatives is sadly being introduced in the Margao Municipal Council politics and we very strongly condemn this."
He said the Municipal Act needs to be amended as far as section 56 is concerned.
“The term "No Confidence", needs to be redefined. How can councillors lose confidence before the chairperson assumes his duties, and does something wrong?" he questioned.
“The sequence of the councillors' meetings with the Chief Minister and Margao MLA, and the resultant voting against their official candidate is a clear indication that the councillors have expressed their genuine choice, and didn't bow down to pressure, and this needs to be accepted by our leaders," Coutinho said.
