Shiv Premi protest removal of Shivaji statue at Valpoi

Team Herald

VALPOI: The Sattari Shiv Premi Nagrik on Saturday staged a protest against the municipality for removing Shivaji statue from Hathwada junction. The protesters had planned to hold a mega rally on Saturday but it was later cancelled as the permission for the same was refused by the Bicholim Deputy Collector.

The protest on Saturday was attended by around forty Shiv Premi.

Addressing the protestors, Shiv Premi association President Vishwaraj Sawant said that this year marks the 350-year anniversary of Shivaji’s visit in Goa, in view of which programmes are being held throughout Goa. 

He regretted that the Shiv Premi association was not allowed to hold rally or celebrate Shiv Jayanti.

“Due to heavy police force in the town, some people refused to join the peaceful rally. They were sacred of the police force. We demand the Valpoi Municipal council to reinstall the Shivaji statue again at Hathwada Junction,” Sawant said.

Expressing concern that some politicians were trying to create a divide between the Hindu and Muslim communities, Sawant said, “Last year, the Shiv Premi had installed a statue at Hathwada Junction in the presence of deputy collector and under heavy police protection. Since then, the authorities gave protection to that statue.” 

“The Valpoi Municipal council had cleaned the grass which had grown around the statue. And now they are saying it was installed illegally” wondered Gaurish Gawas, vice president of Shiv Premi Association.

Condemning the government for denying permission for the rally in Valpoi, Shiv Premi Hanumant Parab alleged that “some politicians had threatened the people not to attend the Shiv rally and protest.” 

“We will not keep quite. We will continue our fight to install the Shivaji statue at Hathwada junction in Valpoi again,” Parab said.