The residents of Sao Tome Ward behind the Panaji Post office had taken a very laudable initiative this year to have a Carnaval do Povo ( People’s Carnival). It would have brought back memories of the traditional Carnival of yester years. But the Panaji bigwigs with vested interests in mind have pressured the authorities not to give clearances to hold the proposed People’s carnival. They have now tutored the police to deny permissions citing traffic issues. If closing two small roads behind the post office is a traffic hindrance, what about the roads near the Municipal garden which will be closed for four-long days. The police owe an explanation on this while acting as puppets of the political bosses. The people’s carnival would have had no financial implication for the State as citizens were organising it out of their love for the city and to bring back the old traditional carnival. This betrayal by the Panaji bigwigs is outrageous and condemnable. It should have been the endeavour of those in power to encourage the restoring of old traditions to keep the Goan flame alive.
