VASCO, NOV 14
A lunch hosted by the officer of NRP Sagres, Portuguese ship, became a flop, as most of the dignitaries skipped the onboard function on the ship anchored at Berth No 10 of Mormugao Port Trust on Sunday.
Governor Dr S S Sidhu and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who conveyed their message that they would be not attending the function, did not attend the lunch party amid protests by freedom fighters and the opposition party, who are condemning the arrival of ship in the State to mark 500 years of circumnavigation of Portugal and glorify its rule in Goa.
Speaker Assembly Pratapsingh Rane, Power Minister Alexio Sequeira, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Shrivastav and Flag Officer of Goa Naval Area Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai also skipped the function.
Vasco Police deployed police force at the entrance of the port as well as inside the port, where the ship is anchored, to avoid law and order problem.
Public who had turned up to visit the ship had to return back as only VVIPS were listed for the function on Sunday.
