Mayor bulldozing every agenda: Former chiefs

Team Herald

PANJIM: The two former mayors of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) have charged their successor and incumbent Mayor Rohit Monserrate of bulldozing every agenda of the civic body by suppressing the voice of opposition.  

Former mayor Surendra Furtado, Uday Madkaikar, who had staged walk-out from the CCP’s ordinary council meeting, held on Friday, along with Councillor Joel Andrade held a press conference on Saturday accusing Monserrate of selling a prime land asset — the National Theatre to a builder. 

“National Theatre issue is pending since 2006. The Monserrate family wants to settle and compromise with the lease holder in order to sell the property to a builder,” Madkaikar charged. 

He further said that it was discussed of conducting a hearing and come at a conclusion but the Mayor just want to bulldoze and sell the property.

Madkaikar pointed out that the court matter of the National Theatre was at a stage where the CCP Commissioner is now the official judge on the matter. 

“Instead of holding hearings, the Commissioner is intent on settling the matter directly with the concerned party. So many mayors in the past have not taken this route as the land has great value and the end result should favour the CCP and not the party concerned,” he said. 

Madkaikar claimed that this was the first mayor in the history of CCP who wants to bypass all agenda. 

Earlier speaking Furtado said that Mayor is trying to bulldoze all the agenda by suppressing the voice of opposition. 

“With Mayor, having complete majority, he is scared of opposition,” he said. 

He questioned as why the Mayor is scared to debate on agenda and face opposition.