MARGAO: It was an unusual sight at the Sao Jose de Areal gram sabha on Sunday wherein the villagers kneeled down before the elected panchas pleading with them to speak the truth as to why the previous meeting was left incomplete and claimed that village body cannot call for the next gram sabha without concluding the previous one.
With the villagers seeking answers to their plea, a group of panch members publicly stated that the last gram sabha, which the panchayat had claimed to have concluded, was stopped midway and all the resolutions were not taken up for the discussion.
However, later Deputy Sarpanch Valent Fernandes, who was given the charge to conduct the gram sabha, left the venue which led to the adjournment of the meeting yet again.
It is pertinent to note that a group of villagers had earlier claimed that the previous gram sabha was left incomplete and without concluding the previous one, the panchayat cannot convene the next gram sabha scheduled on August 27.
In his reply, the Deputy Sarpanch stated that the previous gram sabha concluded and was not left incomplete, but the villagers accused him of lying.
This prompted social activist and villager Fredy Travasso to kneel down at the venue and plead before the other panchas present at the meeting to speak truth on the issue.
A group of panchas stated that the previous gram sabha was stopped midway and not concluded.
The villagers later demanded that the proposals, which were not taken for discussion at the previous gram sabha be taken up before convening the next sabha.
However, Deputy Sarpanch refused to bow down to the villagers’ demand and left the venue resulting in adjournment of the gram sabha.
