the goan I network
MARGAO
The South Goa district administration seems to have finally succumbed to political pressure on the question of permitting rallies, parades and processions in the heart of the commercial
capital.
The administration, on Tuesday, granted permission for the Shiv Jayanti procession, which will enter the city near the Lohia Maidan, Margao from Gogol on Wednesday.
Last year, the administration had refused permission for the Shiv Jayanti procession to enter the city, leaving the organisers of the procession with no option than to take the procession towards the Eastern bypass at the Maruti Temple,
Rumdamol.
This time round, the procession will enter the city at the Gujarati Samaj centre and enter the main city via Aquem and culminate at the Lohia Maidan for a cultural program.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar are expected to flag off the Shiv Jayanti procession at Gogol at 1.30 pm on
Wednesday.
Police officials in private informed that the traffic police had vehemently opposed the return of processions, parades and rallies in the city. It is feared in official circles that granting permission for Shiv Jayanti procession on Wednesday may strengthen the case of the organizers of other parades and processions, including Carnival and Shigmo parades and the Julus procession, unless the High Court intervenes in the matter and maintain status quo on the question of holding parades and procession along the Ravindra bhavan-Nehru stadium route.
Even as a resident of Fatorda has knocked the doors of the High Court on Tuesday to stop the return of parades and processions in the heart of Margao city, sources in the know said the district as well as state administration gave in to the demands of the political leadership for conducting parades and processions in the city.
Given the situation, all eyes are now focused on the High Court which is expected to hear the Public Interest Litigation filed by a resident of Fatorda on Thursday, even as deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, has reiterated the government decision to hold the ensuing carnival parade in Margao along the old Holy Spirit-MMC square route.
