Team Herald
MARGAO: Around 30 – 40 youth from Fatorda held a demonstration near the Fatorda stadium on Thursday demanding restoration of free WiFi services in the village. The WiFi service had been stopped on Thursday following a complaint by NGO United Goans Foundation (UGF).
Referring to a UGF member, Local Alison Morenas stated, “It’s unfortunate that the WiFi facility has been temporarily disconnected after frivolous complaints by a certain defeated candidate from Fatorda, who is moving heaven and earth to stop this facility. However, we will not give up. We will not allow politics to derail development.”
“I haven’t inaugurated the WiFi towers; I inaugurated the service, said Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai a few days ago. He recalled the ‘Digital India’ plan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the recent public statements made by Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad promoting such facilities. He felt that for some time there had been politically-motivated opposition and that shutting down the WiFi service would only deprive the youth.
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations on Friday, UGF stated, “UGF is not an extension and neither will it ever be an extension of any political party or politician. Its only allegiance lies with Goa.”
The NGO added that every representative should be a role model for society and that while the concept of providing free WiFi services was noteworthy and laudable, the same was set up illegally. It stated that when a representative undermined a legal process.
