TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The two rival Madgao Shigmotsav Samitis – one led by BJP leader Damu Naik and the other by the Digambar-Vijai combine – offered sacred coconuts to Lord Damodar separately at the Margao Pimpalkatta ahead of the Shigmo parades scheduled in the city on March 6 and 8.
While Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai told the media after the religious ceremony in the morning that they have prayed to Lord Damodar to guide the present government which swears by the Hindu Gods to serve the people and to grant them permission to hold the parade on March 6, Damu told the media in the evening that the government sponsored shigmo parade will be held on March 8 in the city.
“I have no idea whether there will be any other shigmo parade other than the government sponsored parade. I have nothing to say if there are 10 parades in the city, but the government sponsored shigmo headed by him will be held on March 8”, Damu asserted.
On the other hand, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said since the Madgao Shigmotsav Samiti will hold the float parade on outskirts of the city, he does not see any difficulty in obtaining the necessary permission from the authorities. Asked to specify the reason behind hosting two shigmo parades in the city, Kamat shot back “it’s necessary to find out why this is happening in the city”, adding “as an MLA, I had tried in the past to bring together and hold a single shigmo, but in vain”.
Incidentally, sources in the know said that Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Monday evening headed to Panjim to meet Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to ensure that the government authorities grant the necessary permission for the shigmo parade on March 6.
It is learnt that Vijai’s meeting with the Chief Minister assumed significance since the meeting held by the Tourism Department on Saturday had virtually ruled out the possibility of holding two parades in the city.
“After my meeting with the Chief Minister, the Tourism Minister has okayed the application made by the Madgao Shigmotsav Samiti to hold the shigmo parade on March 6. I am confident that the government will not go back on its promise”, Sardesai told Herald later in the evening.
