Protests fail to dampen shigmo celebrations in Ponda

TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: The Shigmo parade in Ponda on Wednesday was marred by offstage drama between rival groups, as the panel headed by former chief minister Ravi Naik boycotted the parade to protest against the importance given to the rival group.
The protests, however, did not dampen the mood of thousands of revellers who witnessed the annual Shigmo parade, which comprised five Romtamel groups, 50 floats, six Lokanrutya and about 58 fancy dress participants.
The Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti (PTASS) boycotted the event to protest against the Antruz Mahal Shigmotsav Samiti (AMSS) banner displayed at the venue.
“This is totally unacceptable. The government had appointed a committee to organise the event and as such, including the AMSS name did not arise,” informed PTASS Secretary Damu Naik.
“The High Court had permitted us to display our banner on the stage, but the display board had name of the AMSS along with the Directorate of Tourism,” added Naik.
“Besides, there was discrimination when it came to allotment of seats on the dais. So, we decided to boycott the event,” said Naik.
Given the tension and intense rivalry between the two groups, a huge police force of about 750 personnel – including including five DySPs, 11 police inspectors and 12 police sub inspectors, policemen and about 200 traffic policemen – were deputed to maintain law and order in the city.
Incidentally, the unusually large police force even surprised Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar, the chairman of the government-appointed committee to organise Shigmo in Ponda.
“I don’t think there was a need for such strong deployment of police force. We haven’t asked for any kind of security during the Shigmo parade,” stated Dhavlikar, after inaugurating the Shigmo float parade.
Later, Dhavlikar said he was not aware why PTASS members were absent at the parade. “They should have been present for the event. The State government had formed a committee and is organising the event in association with the AMSS,” said Dhavlikar.