TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
CANACONA: Was the annual social gathering of a super school complex cancelled on Friday because organisers had failed to invite the local MLA?
In an unusual incident which has evoked mixed response, the annual social gathering and prize distribution function of the Super School Complex was reportedly cancelled after Sports Minister and local MLA Ramesh Tawadkar was “shocked” that his name was not in the guest list of the function.
According to reports, Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Ajay Bhagat (chief guest), Poinguinim ZP member Daya Pagui (guest of honour) and former Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot (presiding officer) were in the guest list at the function of the Super School Complex at CMC hall, Chaudi, as per the invitation cards printed by Government HSS Principal Shailendra Virdikar.
Sources told Herald that on learning that he was “ignored” at the function, Tawadkar complained to Chief Minister and Education Minister Manohar Parrikar in the matter. The education department was then asked to either rectify the anomaly or to cancel the programme.
Rumours were rife since Thursday that the programme had been cancelled and when some reporters contacted HSS Principal Shailendra Virdikar to confirm the developments, he replied: “Yes, it is cancelled. There is no specific reason, but we felt due to certain development, going ahead with the function may not be possible and so we postponed it.”
“No specific postponement date has been finalised, but since it is a collective programme, a meeting of all concerned, including headmasters of participating schools, will be convened to fix the date,” said the principal, refusing to go into further details.
When contacted to comment whether he was involved in the cancellation of the function, Tawadkar replied: “All that I asked the chief minister was why I had been ignored when it was a government function.”
“When it is a government function, is it not obligatory to consult me or inform me in finalizing the guests? If I could not remain present at the function for any reason, it could have been different,” reasoned Tawadkar.
“But when I saw the invitation card, I was shocked to find my name missing from the guest list. I then called up the chief minister and told him that I am being sidelined by the Canacona Government HSS principal,” he said.
When informed that the Super School Complex’s annual social gathering and prize distribution function was a non-government function organized by participating schools, Tawadkar shot back: “How it can be when the government HSS principal is the chairman of the Super School Complex?”
“If it was not a government function, why would anybody cancel the function? Any private authority or school is within its rights to hold a function and they are not bound to inform me.”
“But as an elected representative of the area, I certainly mind if I am ignored in such circumstances,” said Tawadkar.
