MARGAO: Against the backdrop of public criticism, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer (CO) has finally granted permission to Goa Forward Party (GFP) to use the municipal hall for its Janta Darbar meeting that will be held on Thursday morning.
It may be recalled that there was speculation on Monday that MMC would deny permission to GFP to hold this meeting, following which GFP President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had threatened to hold the meeting outside the Municipal building.
This comes at a time when there has been rising friction between Sardesai and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who control two factions of the MMC, with the Kamat-backed group of Margao councillors enjoying the ruling majority.
On Tuesday, the CO granted permission when the Fatorda group of councillors, who are backed by Sardesai, followed up on this matter.
However, later in the day, GFP Vice President Dilip Prabhudesai, while addressing media persons, raised concerns about MMC’s practice of denying public spaces for citizen gatherings. He cited the cancellation of a Goa Bachao Abhiyan meeting at Lohia Maidan as one of many recent examples and added that both the municipal hall and Lohia Maidan should be available to the public. Prabhudesai emphasised that the municipality should operate in accordance with democratic principles, allowing citizens to voice their grievances freely.
He also explained that the upcoming Thursday Janta Darbar meeting is expected to address citizen demands, which will subsequently be presented during the Assembly session.
Prabhudesai pointed out that GFP has already had similar meetings, like in Panjim and Canacona, and it was the people of Margo and Salcete who had asked for this meeting.
Furthermore, without naming anyone, the GFP senior leader criticised the way Margao ‘was being dealt with as a private property where decisions are taken by the landlord only’ and added that the citizens have a lot to say about what they want for the town.
GFP office bearers also questioned if there was political interference behind this decision considering what had happened in the Lok Sabha election for the Margao constituency, where thousands of people had voted for the INDIA Bloc despite the wishes and campaign of BJP leaders.
They also pointed out that BJP has held meetings and inspections in Fatorda and that no objection was raised then.
MMC slammed for denying permission for events at Lohia Maidan
MARGAO: Congress leader Savio Coutinho also hit out at the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for denying permission for using Lohia Maidan for pre-planned public events and questioned on whose instructions was the MMC taking such selective decisions.
“The MMC twice denied Lohia Maidan bookings to me unfairly. Last Diwali, our Krishna Fancy Dress competition was cancelled last-minute, citing a Narkasur event that never occurred. Recently, for the Lok Sabha elections, our Congress party booking was rejected due to alleged power issues, while a later application was approved. We offered to use our generator, but permission was still denied. These denials not only hinder our events but also result in revenue loss for the Council,” said Coutinho.
