MARGAO: Distressed over the political power play in Margao’s civic body, citizens condemned the city fathers for “unnecessarily dragging God’s name into their dubious schemes”.
Margao local Edwin Lourenco said that the mockery of God displayed by the state representatives is sadly being introduced into the Margao Municipal Council as well. Savio Coutinho, convenor of Shadow Council Margao said, “I have been part of the Council for nearly 20 years as councillor, with two terms as Chairperson. Several Chairpersons have been elected and removed during the past several decades. But not once did we have to swear on the sacred coconut, either to seek support or withdraw support.”
It appears that Section 56 of the Municipal Act needs to be amended, Coutinho added. “How can councillors lose confidence in an elected Chairperson, who is yet to assume his duties, and yet to do something wrong?” he questioned. Reacting to Amonkar’s claim that he took the 15 councillors to swear their allegiance on a coconut at Zambaulim Temple, and not the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Coutinho said sarcastically, that Amonkar should instead be chairperson of the council, considering the sway he holds over the 15 councillors.
