MARGAO: Walkouts by panchayat members and villagers was the highlight of the Aquem Baixo gram sabha held on Sunday following which various issues including illegal constructions could not be taken up for discussion.
Trouble broke out when the issue of damage to the interlocking pavers at a temple near Gorakshwadi was raised up. Some youth claimed that the lockers were damaged by the vehicles transporting material for the construction of a panchayat member’s house.
As the youth began booing the concerned panchayat member when she sought to present her version, she along with the other lady panchayat member walked out of the meeting. Incidentally both the lady panchayat members who walked out are in the opposition in the panchayat.
The youth who had raised the matter demanded that the panchayat member be called for the gram sabha as they wanted to raise some other matter concerning their ward. Sarpanch Sidhesh Bhagat’s assurance that they could raise up the matter with him was not acceptable to the youth and around 20 of them walked out.
“In future please do not take up for discussion any matters concerning our ward at the gram sabha if our ward member is not present,” they said as they walked out.
Although there are instructions not to have “Any Other Business” in the agenda, the sarpanch allowed people to raise their issues and tried to answer the questions raised by them. Incidentally, earlier the panchayat disposed off the four letters it had received on matters to be taken up at the gram sabha.
