PANJIM: The police on Tuesday lathi-charged Youth Congress workers who attempted to break the police cordon to march to the Chief Minister’s residence.
Youth Congress workers who were protesting against growing unemployment and inflation at Azad Maidan, here, suddenly decided to march to the Chief Minister’s residence at Altinho. However, a strong police force stopped them. This resulted in scuffle between the protestors and the police, who wielded their lathis to push back the crowd.
The police subsequently detained around 50 protestors and released them later.
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President Srinivas B V and other senior Youth Congress leaders were present when police resorted to lathi-charge.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar and GPYC President Varad Mardolkar slammed the BJP government for making the police lathi-charge peaceful protestors.
Condemning the lathi-charge on protestors, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, who was also present at the Azad Maidan, said, “Agitation is a fundamental right of the people and nobody can stop that. When I was the Chief Minister, people brought morchas both at my official and private residence. I faced morchas even during public functions but I never ordered a lathi-charge. I faced it.”
Kamat pointed out that on Saturday some youth were arrested for asking questions during the public function attended by the Chief Minister.
“What kind of democracy is this?” he asked.
All India Congress Committee Joint Secretary and IYC in-charge Krishna Allavaru, IYC National media in-charge Rahul Rao, GPCC manifesto committee chairman Ramakant Khalap, and Elvis Gomes also condemned the lathi-charge.
