Oppn Leader wants circular barring govt staff from any agitations withdrawn

Team Herald

MARGAO: Accusing the government of completely failing to manage the COVID pandemic and the State’s economy, Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat on Thursday demanded that the State government withdraw the circular barring the employees from any agitations or campaigns.

Kamat said, “All citizens including the government employees have the democratic right to protest the injustice and raise issues concerning them”. 

“The Government must take steps to ensure that maximum support is given to the hard working government employees in these testing times of COVID pandemic, so that they are not compelled to protest,” he said.

Recalling that the government failure to pay salary to the staff before the Chaturthi, Kamat said, “Most employees had not received their August salary at the month end. It is only after the Congress raised the issue; the government issued a clarification on delay in salaries and eventually was compelled to pay the staff. The government has also put additional burden on the government employees by withdrawing the House Building Allowance (HBA) scheme.”

He said, “The Government has reached such situation due to its adamant attitude of out rightly rejecting the constructive suggestions from the opposition on revival of the economy.” 

“The Government has miserably failed in providing proper healthcare to the COVID patients. There are reports of patients forced to sleep on the floor. I am shocked to read reports that the doctors, nurses and other medical staff working in COVID hospitals and at GMC are not provided with proper masks and personal protection equipment. There are strong chances of the entire medical fraternity protesting against the government for its failure to provide them with safety gadgets. The ban to protest the order of the government is to suppress the voice of devoted healthcare workers”, he charged.

“I once again demand that the Chief Minister must release a white paper on the financial condition of the State immediately. I also demand a white paper on the COVID pandemic in Goa,” Digambar said.

“The people of Goa have lost complete faith in the government and we will be compelled to launch a State-wide agitation if the Government fails to address the concerns of the government staff and the people of Goa,” he warned.