Team Herald
PANJIM: The inauguration of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and a march to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s private residence will keep the State Police on its toes on Tuesday.
While the IFFI inauguration is scheduled at 4.30pm at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, a group of activists have decided to march to Parrikar’s residence at Dona Paula at around 4pm demanding his resignation for the smooth functioning of the State administration.
RTI activist Rajan Ghate, who is on an indefinite hunger strike from November 16, will lead a people’s march to the CM’s residence. Activist Aires Rodrigues, in a social media message has called the people, political parties and NGOs to support the RTI activist and assemble at the entrance of international centre at 3.30pm. Ghate has already received support from the opposition Congress, Goa Suraksha Manch, Shiv Sena and NGOs demanding the CM’s resignation over the failure of the State administration.
The two events have forced Goa Police to form multiple teams to handle the large crowd at the separate venues.
“We have to ensure there is no law and order problem as the protest march is not very far from the IFFI inaugural venue. We have chalked out a detailed plan to ensure law and order and traffic discipline on road,” a senior officer said.
As the police brass held a marathon meeting at Police Headquarters, Rodrigues said that ‘any foul and desperate attempt by Goa government officials to scuttle the people’s march to the residence will be despicable’.
Around 700 police personnel, including traffic police, will be deployed at the IFFI inaugural venue.
