VASCO
All Goa Kannada Mahasangh ( AGKM) has on Tuesday threatened to agitate in large numbers at Azad Maidan in Panjim if the names of the Kannadigas residing in Goa continue to be deleted without rhyme or reason.AGKM Honorary President, Vasco based Siddhanna Meti informed reporters that many of the leaders across different parts of the state had been frantically calling him about the deletion of names of Kanndigas from the electoral roll.
"There are many people who have stayed in Goa for even as much as 40 years and they have always been peaceful and helped in the wellbeing of the state and some are even working for road building works and some are labourers. The constitution gives anyone the right to settle anywhere in the country and cast a vote in the place where they live. The government must not give these Kannadigas a step motherly treatment. We appeal the leaders not to bring us to a situation where all of them converge and agitate collectively in large numbers at Azad Maidan, " said Meti.
Meti added that proper procedures be followed prior to deletion of names.
"There is no harm in deletion of names provided a proper procedure is adopted. If a person has dual voter card or does not have proper credentials or if there is any valid discrepancies it is ok to delete the names. The BLO must carry out a proper survey and check the facts and not act at the behest of a panch member or a councillor and delete names without verification. Some people have been in Goa for many years but are not rich enough to buy land and have their own house and hence have been living in rented premises. This reason should not be used as an excuse to just start deleting names of people from Karnataka who have been living in Goa for several years because many have cancelled their cards in Karnataka after they settled down in Goa," said Meti.
