Team Herald
MARGAO: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said it was unfortunate that party general secretary Pradeep Padgaonkar had to ‘respectfully’ withdraw his name as petitioner in the PIL filed before the High Court of Bombay at Goa on the pothole menace in the State.
AAP convenor Elvis Gomes said he along with party leader Sidharth Karapurkar was forced to address the media so that doubts created in the minds of the people were dispelled and to state the correct position that the petitioner had withdrawn in larger public interest so that the petition is kept alive to run its course for justice.
Stating that the Government portrayed an incorrect picture about petitioner’s bona fide before the Court, Gomes said that the party general secretary Pradeep Padgaonkar had through the petition taken the ‘pain of the people’ before the court after government was found repeatedly failing to address the burning problem.
“A corrupt system in the government causes potholes. Then the government remains indifferent. Then it seeks to discredit the honour of a person who goes to court against the indifference by branding him as publicity seeker. Then the petitioner withdraws to safeguard public interest,” said Gomes describing the situation that led Padgaonkar to withdraw from the petition.
He said the party was satisfied that the petition was kept alive and hoped that the outcome would serve the purpose for which it was filed irrespective of petitioners’ exit.
Gomes wondered whether an issue which has been taking considerable media as well social media space could remain unreported especially when the people at large were pinning their hopes on the court to deliver some relief.
“Everyone knows that Pradeep Padgaonkar fondly called as “Dattu Appa” is an honourable man. The government tried to divert attention from its own failures by attributing motives to Padgaonkar. I told him to withdraw, in the situation that emerged suddenly, as the cause taken up was larger than Padgaonkar continuing as the petitioner,” Gomes added.
Meanwhile, Karapurkar said if anyone thinks that AAP was seeking publicity, he would like to tell them that the party is way above such petty things.
“Why would we seek publicity over pain inflicted on the people through loss of lives, injuries, loss of time, loss of fuel, environmental damage and loss of peace” Karapurkar asked.
