MARGAO
Citizens across party and religious lines on Thursday sent a message loud and clear from the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao to MLAs intended to defect from their parties that the people of Goa will not keep quiet this time, warning of protests and agitations at their respective residences.
The gathering pledged to take this programme of protests against the defections in all the constituencies across Goa.
Armed with placards with messages of “Preparations for a Second Battle”, in the event of defections, the citizens cautioned all MLAs and more specifically Margao MLA Digamber Kamat against betraying the trust and vote of the people.
The protest call given by former Chairperson of MMC and Shadow Council for Margao Convener Savio Coutinho was attended by several prominent citizens including Prof Joan Rebello, Radha Kavlekar, Anthony D’Silva, Adv Nick Colaco, Jack Mascarenhas, Domnic Coutinho, John Baretto, Loyola Rodrigues, Iftiyaz Sayed, Orlando Rodrigues, Umran Pathan, Mahesh Naik, Salim Shaikh, Edwin Lourenco, Abdul Matin, Leo Monteiro and others.
Coutinho stated that the sole purpose of holding the protest was to send a clear message to the greedy MLA’S that the people would not tolerate such attempts of defections. “We have chosen the Lohia Maidan for this protest, as it was from this place that the movement for Goa’s freedom was started; and from here we wish to start a Kranti against defections,” Coutinho revealed.
He added: “It was a shame that the elected MLAs who had taken vows before the Temple, Church and Mosque prior to the elections, are now interested to switch over for their self interest, while portraying that they are going for development of their Constituency. During the last defection in 2019, people kept mum, and swallowed the bitter pill; this time around the situation would not be the same, and the “prospective defectors” should understand it clearly.”
Social activist Anthony D’Silva warned the MLAs that though they ditch the people and defect to the ruling group, the people will make them defective during the coming election.
Prof. Joan Rebello expressed disappointment over the attempt of Margao MLA Digamber Kamat to defect to the BJP. “We the people of Margao had voted for Digamber Kamat considering the ideology of the Party he represented. And now when he wishes to join a Party with a totally contradictory ideology, it is more than a backstab to the people of Margao”, Prof Rebello stated.
Mahesh Nayak said the MLAs have no right to switch parties citing development, pointing out that the MLAs should stick to the same party for the entire five years, and should not switch sides for their selfish interests.
