PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the Goa government would take stern action against those responsible for displaying "Free Umar Khalid" placards during a protest at Azad Maidan, while maintaining that peaceful demonstrations remain a democratic right.
Addressing the media in Vasco, Sawant said the government had no objection to the NEET protest itself but objected to what he described as attempts to use the gathering to promote "anti-national sentiments".
"Peaceful protest is a democratic right, but we will not tolerate anyone misusing it to spread anti-national sentiments in Goa. Those displaying 'Free Umar Khalid' placards at the Panaji protest and those behind such activities will face strict action. We will not spare anyone," he said/
Backing the police action, the Chief Minister said the authorities acted appropriately after placards seeking the release of Umar Khalid were displayed.
"Taking advantage of the gathering to display placards demanding Umar Khalid's release is unacceptable. The police have taken strict action, and we will investigate who supported them and how people from across the country reached this protest," Sawant said.
He alleged that NGOs had facilitated the participation of people from outside Goa and said the government would investigate their role.
"Goa is a place of religious harmony that welcomes everyone. But NGOs that organised this and brought people from across the country for such activities cannot expect the government to remain a silent spectator. We are not against protests, but we will act against those who misuse them," he said.
Sawant also dismissed reports that FIRs had been filed against around 1,000 people. "This is not true. However, we have directed the police to act against those who defiled the sanctity of Azad Maidan by smoking cigarettes and those who displayed the 'Free Umar Khalid' placards," he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government's concern was not the students' protest but what he called attempts to introduce "anti-national movements" into Goa.
He also lauded former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying he accepted responsibility in the interest of students and initiated reforms, including stricter laws against paper leaks and the proposal to conduct NEET entirely through Computer Based Test (CBT).
