THE GOAN NETWORK
SANGUEM
The Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) on Tuesday voted in favour of installing the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the municipal garden opposite the Sanguem Church.
This decision has, however, drawn criticism and opposition from four of the council's members.
The council meeting was attended by the SMC Chairperson Archana Gaonkar, councillors and chief officer. Social Welfare Minister and local MLA Subhash Phaldessai was also present at the meeting.
When the topic of installation of the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came up for discussion, opposition councillors led by Meshu D'Costa strongly objected to the installation of the statue in the municipal garden opposite the Church citing disturbance of religious activities.
The ruling councillors, however, voted in favour of the site for the installation, claiming strong support for commemorating Shivaji Maharaj within the local community.
Proponents of the statue argued that it would serve to foster a sense of pride among local residents and draw attention to Goa’s historical ties with prominent figures like Shivaji Maharaj.
At the meeting, D'Costa also placed his strong objection to the chairperson forming the forthcoming Shigmotsav celebration committee on her own without the issue being placed before the council or general public.
Speaking to reporters after the council meeting, Phaldessai informed that the installation of statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would cause no harm or disturbance to religious activities at the Sanguem Church.
He said the municipal owned area in front of the Church is well barricaded and there is no reason as to why the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should not be installed in the garden, which serves as a children' park.
Incidentally, the SMC’s decision to install the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj few metres away from the Sanguem Church has evoked sharp criticism from the Catholic community.
They felt that the statue could have been installed at some other place in the town area rather than getting it placed in front of the Church.
“There is ample open space at the Sanguem Bus Stand or near the existing statue of Dayanand Bandodkar where the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj could have been placed,” claimed the opposition councillor Meshu D'Sosta.
