Little did the seventy-year-old former matron of Hospicio hospital, realise that a simple visit to the casualty ward of a hospital where she worked and nursed patients back to health, would get her into so much trouble

Nothing in her tenure as a proud nurse working for her government, had prepared her for the almost might of a minister, who has effectively ensured that she will spend a lot of time running from police station to the courts, because she and her daughter had the courage borne out of frustration to shout at the Health minister, Vishwajit Rane to demand attention to things they were upset about.

Marita D'Cruz and her daughter Avita felt hurt and insulted because according to them, they were stopped by the security guard at Hospicio and not allowed to go to the casualty section, Whatever may be the details of the case, it is was clear that the ladies were angry enough to confront the minister who happened to be at the hospital at that time. Now this is not the first instance where members of the public have been upset about issues and vented their anger on seeing signs of authority. They simply were upset that   a common citizen could be blocked in this manner.

Yes they did hurl abuses at the minister and went up to this car and spoke in a very aggressive tone continuously raising their voices while the minister asked them to calm down, but adding “You are speaking to the Health Minister and not some ordinary labourer”.

The minster drove away the women shouted more expletives and condemned him for ditching the Congress ad joining the BJP and asked him whether he needs people only during votes.

The incidents, ugly and disconcerting as it were, should have been laid to rest by the Minister simply because of the position he holds and accepting that these incidents happen in political life in a vibrant and strong people centric societies as Goa very much is. And late at night on Sunday, it also appeared that the minister too had let it pass.

It was therefore absolutely shocking when we learnt that on Monday morning, the PSO of the minster lodged a complaint against the two ladies.  And the sections that were levied against them for investigation are jaw-dropping and they are assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace and Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions. To rub salt on the wound section 36 has been slapped which basically means whether these acts were committed deliberately or in omission, the offence would be the same.

Will anyone in their right frame of mind, who saw the incidents, and the two ladies, think they wanted to assault or use criminal force against the minister and were intentionally provoking to cause breach of peace. If that is indeed the case then half of those, who protest on the streets or gherao government servants and ministers or shout at meetings involving officials, would be fighting these cases in police stations.

Democracy allows space for public anger and protests. It at all times must see that this is confined to the boundaries of law. But these boundaries also need to be drawn according to the situation and the profile of those protesting. Those who cry for justice, and  shout at a minister, when their anger goes out of control, cannot be taken to task by the powerful in this manner. It’s just not humane. It’s just not right.

All that was needed was a quiet word and a reprimand if at all, but what about their grievances, their hurt?  Has anybody addressed the fact that they were not allowed to access the hospital by a guard who apparently acted rough. Let this also be investigated.

At the end of the day, both minister and the Margao town police should realise that their harshness will hurt two ladies, one of whom is elderly. If the law is about the letter, the enforcement of law should also be about spirit and the spirit here is that these ladies are not criminals but hurt citizens.