MARGAO: The Margao Shigmotsav Samiti, at its general body meeting on Monday, pledged that it would organise the Shigmo parade this time and appointed Vasant Shirodkar as chairman of the organising committee. The members have called out to people and stakeholders to end the dispute between the two Shigmotsav committees and make this Shigmo successful.
Meanwhile, the Margao Municipal Council chairperson Babita Angle has said that the festival date could be changed due to the DefExpo and that it would be confirmed after a meeting of the Tourism Department soon.
Addressing the meeting, MLA Digambar Kamat said, “This year, the MMC has taken a good decision and that has stayed as there is no numbers game here. The Margao Shigmotsav Samiti is the only one which is genuine.”
“We have to protect the Shigmo of Margao. We don’t want money. We have maintained the culture and we will further from here. We have shown what Shigmo is to Madgaonkars. Do not disturb or insult the culture; the people who have disturbed the culture are the sufferers,” said councillor Vasant Shirodkar.
He added, “The office that the Damu Naik-backed Shigmo committee is in fact our office and the house tax is in our name.”
Angle, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Shigmo Samiti, stated, “I feel only one fest should be celebrated. Why do we want to divide Daambaab? Others should accept this gracefully and I won’t allow the other Shigmo to happen if there is no MMC permission.”
Regarding the change in route, she said, “The route has nothing to do with Margao-Fatorda politics. Congestion and parking problems have increased in Margao as the town is growing. Hence, citizens have to collectively decide on their betterment and have to support us for the decision.”
