VASCO: Khariwado residents have threatened to hold a Vasco bandh if the addition of Sambhaji is not removed from the address in their ration cards within 15 days. They said that there was no need to change the name of Vasco to Sambhaji and the addition in the ration card must be done with ulterior motives. They stated that would rather burn the ration cards than accept any change in their address.
The demand was made during a meeting at Khariwado ,which was attended by around 150 residents of Non-Mon Dhempe Bhat, Saibine Bhat, Bandar, Tilak Maidan and Pixem Dongri on Wednesday.
“We cannot accept any change in the address. The address mentioned in the old ration cards should have been retained in the new ration card. We were shocked to see addition in the address. We have to protest the same, as we don’t want the government to change the name of Vasco to Sambhaji Nagar. We have decided to give 15 days to the authorities to make corrections or else we will first burn the new ration cards, and if our demands are still not fulfilled, then we might even call for a Vasco bandh,” said Custodio D’ Souza, president of Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners’ Society.
He continued, “Our MLA Carlos Almeida met us today and we have apprised him of our demands. He informed us that the same could be an error, and he took old and new ration cards with the assurance to initiate steps for corrections. We will wait for 15 days. If the issue is still not resolved, we will even boycott the forthcoming assembly election and will not vote for anyone.”
