PORVORIM: In a bid to counter Joseph Sequeira’s petitions, Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has decided to file a complaint before the Anti-Corruption Branch and Crime Branch against the Congress leader for demanding protection money from hoteliers and businessmen from Calangute.
“I appeal to all hoteliers and businessmen to come forward and support me in filing the complaint,” Lobo said speaking to the media.
Sequeira has filed a disqualification petition against Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and seven panch members of Calangute panchayat before the High Court of Bombay at Goa and the Administrative Tribunal respectively by Congress leader and former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. Lobo said, “The petitioner claimed that he had sought re-counting of the vote before the returning officer, who declined to accept it. Hence, Sequeira has sought my disqualification terming it illegal,” Lobo said.
“The petitioner even claimed that there was tampering with EVMs,” Lobo stated adding that when the candidate lost by a margin of 3900 votes, the question of recounting does not arise.
Further, Lobo said that eight different petitions have been filed against all the eight panchas of the Calangute elected under the panel ‘Together for Calangute’ before the administrative tribunal, seeking their disqualification.
“The petitioners claim was that BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker was campaigning for the candidates and it is illegal,” Lobo said, admitting that he campaigned for the panel but made no use of government machinery while doing so.
