MARGAO
Will the BJP-affiliated Margao Municipal Council take a cue from ex-Dy. Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Manohar aka Babu Ajgaonkar after he enforced a ban on tambdi bhaji from entering the Gandhi market?
For, hordes of vendors from Karnataka had flooded the commercial capital with marigold flowers on the eve of Dussehra festival recently. And, despite protests from the local flower growers, the Margao Municipality had done nothing to protect the local growers from dumping of flowers by traders from the neighbouring state.
In fact, when BJP-backed Councillor Camilo Barretto had made a fervent plea at the Council meeting to crack a whip against outside vehicles selling marigold flowers in the Goan market during the Dussehra and Diwali festivities, the plea had received cold shoulder from the City Fathers and Municipal babus, so much so the Councillor was shouted down by his Councillor colleagues.
Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar claimed that he had got the Municipal workers to seize flowers from the vendors. Sources in the know, however, say the Margao Municipality and its inspectors played the role of silent spectators when outside traders made merry by selling marigold flowers at throwaway prices in the commercial capital.
