ARAMBOL: The State government continued its crackdown against holding the people’s carnival, this time using police machinery to play a spoil sport at Arambol.
It is pertinent to note that this year, the State government has been withdrawing permissions for celebrating the carnival events organised by the locals fearing that the festivities would deflate the State’s flagship celebration ‘the Goa Carnival’.
The people’s carnival at Arambol was stalled by the Pernem Police team led by PI Dattaram Raut on Tuesday which detained a German national named Juju.
The celebrations were scheduled to start at 3 pm and many foreign nationals gathered at the venue. However, since the carnival at Arambol was not given the required permissions, some chose to proceed to Morjim.
When preparations were underway near a particular restaurant, the police reached the spot and detained Juju and three workers of the restaurant.
“It is in violation of law when the government sponsored carnival is already scheduled at Morjim, while another is being organised at Arambol. A German national who was the main organiser has been detained as a precautionary measure,” said PI Raut.
He said, “The locals should not support the foreign nationals for such activities.”
“The foreign nationals get emboldened only after receiving backing from the locals. I appeal to the locals to support the police in maintaining law and order,” said Raut.
Earlier PI Raut clarified that the police had not cancelled the carnival but they had stopped it only because the organisers had not obtained necessary permission from the Department of Tourism.
“We have not cancelled the Arambol carnival. There was no permission obtained for the same from the Tourism Department thereby holding it illegal,” PI said and denied receiving any complaint from an NGO opposing the carnival and suspected it to be a trance party.
Pernem Deputy Collector Deepak Vaigankar, feigned ignorance about the cancellation of the carnival at Arambol.
“I have no idea why the carnival at Arambol has been cancelled,” he said.
The cancellation of the carnival left the revellers disappointed who were forced to return home.
“We are sad coming here with lots of friends to enjoy the carnival and it is closed now. And it doesn’t cost anyone, anything. It is good for all the people having business here,” said foreign national who had come to witness the carnival at Arambol.
