CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo was shouted down from addressing the Calangute gram sabha on Sunday.
Commotion erupted at the meeting held at the panchayat hall, when Sherwin Lobo tabled the development plans for Calangute. To pacify the villagers, Sarpanch Shawn Martins informed that MLA Lobo has come as a special invitee and would speak on the development plan. This angered the villagers who started booing the MLA to prevent him from addressing the meeting. The booing continued for the next three hours preventing the gram sabha from discussing any issue.
Finally before the lunch break, when Lobo grabbed the mike and began talking, villagers rushed to dais and booed him. Seeing this, the police personnel rushed in and moved the villagers away from the dais, giving space to MLA to address the meeting. But as he spoke, the villagers started shouting slogans against him, which grew louder as the MLA persisted in addressing the crowed. Finally, realizing that his voice was drowning in the din, Lobo walked out of the meeting.
The gram sabha began at 11 am with the minutes of the previous meeting being read out. A local, Clotilda Braganca brought to the notice that she had earlier sought for the minutes of the last gram sabha from the Calangute panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bhagkar.
“I went to the panchayat three times but he hasn’t furnished me with the copy of the minutes. Every time they keep telling us to come on Monday,” she said.
In response, the sarpanch said, “If he cannot give, I will give you.”
Premanand Divkar, another local, highlighted the rampant land filling of low lying areas and hill cutting being carried out in the areas.
The gram sabha went on for over eight hours and was adjourned on two occasions. The long duration did not seem to deter the spirit of locals who stayed back at the gram sabha to witness every bit of discussion, proposals, debates and resolution. Many villagers said that this was the longest gram sabha in the history of Calangute panchayat.
Meanwhile, ex-Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira opined that the police are not allowed to enter in the hall without being instructed by the sarpanch.
“We were not doing anything, but just voicing our opinion and displeasure to allow the local MLA to speak at the gathering. The people did not want to listen to him as we have a sarpanch and do not need an MLA to come and reply to us. This is a gram sabha and not Michael’s sabha. He is not even a voter of Calangute and hence cannot talk here,” he pointed out.
