PANJIM: BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo broke through party and government ranks, while batting and battling for ramponkars and small fishermen, on the floor of the house on the opening day of the monsoon session of the Assembly. Reacting to the incidents of the Goa police resorting to lathi charge to disperse hundreds of fishermen who blocked the roads of Panjim, in protest against trawler owners and other big fishermen using LED lights. Lobo demanded that the magisterial inquiry on the lathi charge which took place on May 12, was expected in a month, but hasn’t yet seen the light of day. “BJP should come clean and say that we are not responsible for the lathi-charge,” Lobo asked. The inquiry was ordered on May 16, four days after the incident. Swapnil Naik was asked to head the probe. Lobo asked the Fisheries Minister to apologise to the fishermen community. “The minister is quiet on the issue of lathi-charge, he should tender his apology to the fishermen,” Lobo said. Lobo also demanded the suspension the officer who ordered the lathi-charge on the protesting fishermen.
