It was very surprising to see the Marathi Bhasha Nirdhar Samiti being allowed to block the Mandovi bridge to demand official language status for Marathi before the elections ; that too at the beginning of the monsoon assembly session. Also the police present at site did not take any action or arrest the protestors. Usually they exhibit extreme alacrity to detain, lathi charge, fire tear gas shells and file FIRs against such elements. Further the protest leaders were allowed to meet the CM at short notice to listen to their grievances, this in the midst of a Assembly proceedings. This so called 'protest' has all the signs of a Machiavellian scheme sprung by the government to divert attention from real issues plaguing the State. Also consider that a starred question relating to the NDZ and Sec 39-A was disallowed by the Speaker and two opposition MLAs were marshalled out of the house when they expressed their displeasure. This government will do everything in it's power, by hook or by crook to perpetuate authoritarianism and throttle democracy.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
