MARGAO
Condemning the BJP government for what it termed as scuttling a Christmas programme in Seraulim on Sunday, the Aam Aadmi Party has demanded to know how can the government and the police stop a cultural programme during Christmas week.
Addressing the media, AAP Benaulim leader Capt Wenzy Viegas said when the State is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Goa’s liberation from the Portuguese, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is acting like the Portuguese dictator Salazar.
He demanded to know why around 150 police personnel were deployed at Seraulim to stop a cultural programme to be attended by 50 persons. “It was a cultural programme during the Christmas week. What problem did the government have on programme centered on awareness on coal and environment. This Salazar system should be immediately stopped in the State,” he demanded.
Wenzy further demanded to know the silence of the local MLA Churchill Alemao to the police action of stopping the cultural programme. “We have not heard anything from the local MLA as well as the newly-elected ZP candidate, who had only recently got the votes of Seraulim villagers,” he said.
In fact, Wenzy demanded that Churchill, who is supporting the BJP government should condemn the police action in Seraulim within 24 hours.
AAP Benaulim women’s unit chief Malenie Coutinho said she was the witness to the large presence of the men-in-uniform at Seraulim on Sunday. “Jeeps came with police personnel near the venue. There was a big drama. One police officer was telling the personnel to put the people inside,” she said.
She questioned: “Is the government trying to muzzle the voices of the villagers. How can the police and the authorities object to a cultural programme during Christmas Week. We are peace loving people. That doesn’t mean that they can do whatever they want to do,” she said, while condemning the incident.
