Flying squad descends at site, directs to stop work; followers later lift away statue
MARGAO
Tension rent the air at the Power House traffic junction at Aquem-Margao on Saturday evening after followers of Dr B R Ambedkar installed a life-size statue of the father of Indian Constitution.
As work on the installation of the statue was in progress, an election flying squad along with a team of Margao police led by PI Tulsidas Naik descended at the spot and directed the persons to stop the work forthwith.
Till late in the night, large number of police personnel was deployed at the site as a precautionary measure. Followers of Dr Ambedkar were also present in large numbers, as they turned up at the site after hearing the news of the action initiated by the flying squad.
Deepak Kattimani told the media that the statue of Ambedkar has been installed with a resolution adopted by the Margao Municipal Council. He further said the followers of Ambedkar had also taken the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar into confidence before the statue was installed at the traffic junction.
“We have the resolution adopted by the Margao Municipal Council. We also have the support of the Margao MLA. But, the flying squad has insisted that no statue can come up when the election code of conduct is in force,” he said.
Deepak said the followers of Ambedkar will have a meeting with the authorities before taking a call on the statue.
Recently, during the inspection of the Power House junction, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat had given an in-principle nod in the presence of MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar to install a temporary statue of Ambedkar inside the Power House junction. In fact, Kamat had assured the delegation that a life-size status of Ambedkar and Shivaji Maharaj will be installed at the traffic junction once the Rawanfond four-lane bridge becomes a reality.
In a late night development, Ambedkar’s followers finally lifted away the statue of Dr Ambedkar from the Power House traffic junction.
