Team Herald
MARGAO: The 18th June Kranti Din Committee and Freedom Fighters Association of South Goa on Saturday demanded that an action should be initiated against the concerned contractor for damaging Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s statue, if it was taken for repairs.
Speaking to Herald Avinash Shirodkar, president of the 18th June Kranti Din Committee and Vaman Prabhugaonkar, president of Freedom Fighters Association of South Goa said that such an act is condemnable.
Earlier, speaking to the media persons, Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, with regard to the missing Dr Lohia’s statue which was earlier noticed lying abandoned has defended that Dr Lohia’s statue is not gone missing but taken for the repairs. However, Kranti Din Committee has taken strong objections to the CO’s statements and demanded action to be initiated against the concerned person for damaging the statue.
It may be recalled that Dr Lohia’s statue, besides Martyr Memorial was lying abandoned at the corner of the Lohia Maidan for the last many days.
The CO has stated that the statue was taken for repairs by the consultant appointed by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA). The statue has not gone missing but has been taken away for repairs.
“The clarification given by the Chief Officer is totally misguiding. Let’s believe that there is truth in the CO’s statement, but if that’s the case then it means that the statue has been damaged. We want action against the concerned authorities or the contractor for damaging Dr Lohia’s statue, despite requesting to take precautions,” Avinash demanded.
He informed that the recently installed new statue of Dr Lohia had cost lakhs of rupees.
“It was polished recently by paying Rs 25,000. The damage to the statue is an offence, and we want action to be initiated against the act of negligence,” Avinash said.
Freedom Fighter Prabhugaonkar demanded action against the concerned person.
