Team Herald
MARGAO: ‘Concerned Citizens of Goa’ (CCG) have been denied permission by the Salcete Deputy Collector to hold a peaceful protest in solidarity with Human Rights Activists Teesta Setalvad and RB Sreekumar, and Alt News Journalist Mohammed Zubair.
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The protest was going to be held to voice their concern and to demand the immediate release of Setalvad, Sreekumar and Zubair. Members of CCG alleged that the three activists have been detained illegally.
Voicing her angst over the denial, CCG Co-convenor Lumina da Costa Almeida said “Our fundamental rights are being trampled upon on the pretext of Covid. Whereas the government has allowed crowds at movies, gatherings, tourism activity and has even allowed some persons from Maharashtra who have roamed from State to State several times over to gather in Goa.”
Calling the authorities’ actions hypocritical, Albertina Almeida, Co-convenor of Citizens’ Initiatives for Communal Harmony said “What are these double standards? Where is the notification by the Disaster Management Authority regarding Covid-related precautions? There is no section 144 in force. The State government is allowing schools to function, it allowed the Jagannath rally but it is arbitrarily denying permissions for a peaceful protest.”
“This shows how the government is marginalising our freedom of speech and right to protest,” she added.
