Benaulim dy sarpanch says he was forced to resign
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 7
Benaulim deputy Sarpanch Stanley Fernandes, who had put in his papers at the Sunday gram sabha meeting, said on Monday that his resignation was not voluntary and he tendered his paper following pressure from a few members.
The deputy Sarpanch said the members had completely gheraoed him and would not let him go if he had not to put in his paper.
Asserting that he has not filed any false affidavit in the high court at any time on the garbage disposal, Stanley said he stands by the contents of the affidavit.
Saying that the panchayat has never approved any mega projects, he said the Panchayat under the Panchayat rules is bound to issue license based on approvals from the TCP and PWD. “The Panchayat never grants approvals but always acts under the technical supervision of TCP and PWD”, he said.
The Benaulim deputy Sarpanch has appealed to the Chief Minister and Panchayat authorities to intervene and to view the way gram sabhas are conducted and help the elected representatives to conduct the meetings in a civilized and proper manner.
He has requested the Director of Panchayats to conduct an inquiry into the matter and issue notices to such persons raising questions contrary to law and issue direction to the Sarpanchas and Secretaries to stop such persons from raising such questions.
“I have no personal grudge or grievance against any person, but I am shocked and cannot take any more the sorry state of the way the gram sabhas are carried at Benaulim Panchayat by a few persons”, he added.
