Imposition of Sec 144 is mischievous, alleges Cong

Team Herald

PANJM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has come down heavily on the enforcement of Section 144 CrPC stating the notification issued by the District Collector on February 10 is mischievous. If the terror threat to western coast is true, the party said, the government should shut down casinos for 60 days. 

Addressing a press conference in the party head office in Panjim on Thursday, GPCC Convener (Media Cell) Trajano D’Mello alleged involvement of an “influential minister” prompting such a notification. 

“Our party has received inputs from earlier members of this government that an influential minister from the North coastal belt has influenced this notification. The notification issued by the North District Collector under Section 144 CrPC is mischievous and deplorable as it can be misused by the authorities,” he stated.

The reasons cited in the order, D’Mello said, are prevailing situation in the country, intelligence inputs regarding possible terror threats along the western coast of India and possibility of anti-social elements committing crime. 

“The government has lost all sense of governing democratically as per law,” he said adding, “The Supreme Court in its recent judgment has explained to the law makers that Section 144 cannot be used to restrict citizens of their fundamental right to assemble peacefully and cannot be used to prevent expression of opinion or curb any democratic rights. The Section has been misused by BJP governments in different States.”

He said that the conditions laid down for verification of people staying in rented houses, flats and hotels appear to be very mischievous. He alleged that the intention the government to invoke Section 144 CrPC is to prevent people from speaking or protesting against the CAA, NPR and NCR.

“If the government believes the intelligence inputs are true as made out to be as per the notification, then, the most vulnerable terror hideout would be in the casinos where government security personnel do not have free access. The government should shut down the casinos for 60 days,” he demanded.