When the gram sabha was told that Vaz was on a six-month leave, the members suggested that he step aside and allow someone else to take up the matters of his ward, Firgulem. They also demanded that the issue be raised with the Directorate of Panchayats for Vaz’s disqualification under the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act and that by-elections be held, given that residents of his ward felt neglected. They also demanded that the matter be taken up with Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado.
Regarding the ground at Firgulem, Sarpanch Sharon Quadros stated that a file had already been moved for demarcation of the ground and assured that it will be taken up shortly.
The gram sabha also witnessed tense moments when police personnel and a gram sabha member was removed on the suspicion that he was not an authentic member. The villager in question and some panchayat members got into a heated argument, and it was later learnt that the evicted villager was a genuine member. This led to heated discussions on the statements made by panchas who had questioned the authenticity of the evicted member.
