VASCO: Tension gripped Headland Sada on Wednesday after a group of people from Sada had a heated verbal exchange with Urban Development Minister Milind Naik over trimming of branches of an old tree.
Naik claimed that the branches were chopped as they were posing danger to the lives of the local residents, whereas the annoyed group continued to demand from the minister permission from the Forest Department to cut the tree branches.
A man reportedly had a heated verbal exchange with Minister Naik who was at the site to inspect the ongoing trimming work of the branches. Later, one Suraj Chodankar reportedly pushed the minister on the ground, following which supporters of both Naik and Chodankar gathered at the site.
Later, police intervened and the situation was brought under control and the tree branches were trimmed.
Later in the afternoon, Naik told the media that Chodankar had pushed him on the ground.
“We had informed the mamlatdar about the trimmings of the branches of the trees. Permission is required only when we cut the trees from its roots and not for trimming the branches,” Naik claimed.
However, Chodankar claimed that the minister has been behaving like a dictator in Sada.
“The tree that was trimmed is worshiped by the people. We only asked him to show us the permission to trim the tree and Naik refused to do so. We are citizens of this country and we have the right to question the minister. But Naik said that I cannot do anything and that he would go ahead with the trimming,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening hundreds of supporters of the minister rushed to the Mormugao police station demanding strict action against Chodankar his companion Raj Halwai for allegedly arguing and behaving inappropriately with the minister.
Police said that Minister Naik has filed a complaint against Chodankar and Halwai for wrongfully restraining him, pushing him on the ground, abusing the minister with filthy words and threatening the minister with dire consequences.
Mormugao police have registered offence under Sections 323, 341, 504, 506(ii) read with 34 IPC against Chodankar and Halwai. However, they have not been arrested.
