MARGAO, MARCH 7
Expressing serious concern over the spate of thefts in the commercial Capital, the Margao unit of the BJP on Saturday demanded to know from the government whether any security arrangements would be put in place in the city when Madgavkars and devotees of the city’s presiding deity Lord Damodar visit Zambaulim for the annual Gulal festival.
The BJP also made a request to the government, besides the mine, transport owners to keep their operations on hold or regulate the same during the week long Gulal festival in the interest of thousands of devotees thronging the Lord Damodar Temple at Zambaulim.
Briefing newsmen, BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar said the murder of the watchman guarding a city school has raised serious concerns amongst citizens about their safety and security. “On the night when the watchman was done to death, the miscreants also targeted two residential apartments in Comba. This has exposed the security in the city”, he said.
Raiturcar said Madgavkars in large numbers, irrespective of caste or creed, participate in the Zambaulim gulal festivities every year. “Questions are raised amongst the citizens whether their houses would be safe from the burglars or thieves when they are away,” he said.
He said the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, who represents the Commercial capital in the Legislative Assembly and the Home Minister, Ravi Naik should answer these queries and make the necessary security arrangements.
“It is now for the Chief Minister and the Goa police to reassure the citizens that they and their properties will be safe during the festivities”, he said.
Making an appeal to the government, mine owner and ore transport operators to either suspend their operations during the six day Gulal festivities in the interest of the devotees, Raiturcar said suspension of the ore transportation or regulating the traffic during the week-long festivities would help minimize the risk faced by motorists on the Quepem-Tilamol-Zambaulim road.
