High voltage drama continues outside Nuvem MLA’s house

Team Herald

MARGAO: For the second consecutive day, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers on Sunday found themselves at the receiving end when they marched to Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa’s residence to seek an apology for the Saturday’s incident only to be attacked yet again by the legislator’s supporters with eggs and tomatoes.

The high voltage drama continued outside Nuvem MLA’s residence on Sunday when AAP led the protest against the verbal abuse of its leaders the earlier day. A heated exchange of words was followed by eggs and tomatoes being hurled at AAP volunteers. 

On Sunday afternoon, nearly 200 AAP volunteers led by Goa State Convenor Rahul Mhambre and State vice-president Pratima Coutinho marched to the MLA’s house, demanding an apology for the earlier incident. 

However, a heavy police force blocked the AAP volunteers by barricading the road leading to MLA’s house. AAP leaders requested the police to allow them to meet the MLA but PI Kapil Nayak refused. They shouted anti-MLA slogans. 

The hour-long drama witnessed heated arguments between AAP volunteers and MLA’s supporters. Supporters from the MLA’s group led by Wilfred’s wife Freda marched towards the AAP volunteers. 

After the war of words, MLA’s supporters allegedly hurled eggs and tomatoes at AAP volunteers followed by clashes between them. AAP tried to burn Wilfred’s effigy. The police stopped AAP leaders including Coutinho when they tried to cross the barricade.

The MLA along with his wife, besides several supporters including sarpanchas of Nuvem, Verna, Betalbatim, and Majorda were present. 

The MLA rushed to the spot and asked the AAP volunteers to return. He directed the police to disperse them or else his supporters would force them to retreat.  Later, the mamlatdar ordered the police to disperse the AAP volunteers, following which the cops forcibly pushed them back and asked them to retreat before any untoward incident takes place.

It may be recalled that on Saturday a group lead by AAP State president Adv Pratima Coutinho had visited D’Sa’s residence as a part of their campaign to mark the second anniversary of 10 MLAs switching sides from Congress to BJP. D’Sa was amongst the 10 MLAs who joined the BJP in July 2019.