MARGAO: Fatorda MLA and former deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday demanded Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar removal from the Cabinet for compromising on public safety.
Vijai reacted after the order of the collector favouring the Fatorda route for the carnival parade was declared.
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The Fatorda MLA when in his previous term as MLA had taken the carnival parade to Ravindra Bhavan route and was instrumental in keeping it there for the last three years.
Vijai while reacting to the reinstatement of the route to Fatorda said, “South Goa Collector has cited public safety as the reason for finalising Fatorda route for the carnival parade, which means decision by tourism minister to change the route this year was against public safety.”
“The tourism minister who doesn’t care for public safety is a threat to the tourists and must be sacked by Chief Minister immediately since he will not resign if asked to by anyone,” demanded Vijai.
“Sad that an activist belonging to the scheduled tribe community had to knock the door of High Court for South Goa District Administration to endorse its own decision taken in 2016, speaks badly of a meek administration which resembles caged parrots,” criticised Vijai.
He also opined that politics shouldn’t pollute celebrations of Goa’s traditions. The show will go on but not where the minister wants it but in Fatorda, which he may feel is small but which is always forward.
Terming the district collector’s order as a well thought of one, Shadow Council for Margao welcomed the same.
Convener of SCM Savio Coutinho stated that Ajit Roy having specifically said that the decision of adoption of the Ravindra Bhavan route was in view of administrative convenience and public safety, thereby confirming that it was in the larger public interest.
“We do understand that the municipal square has been a traditional route for a very long period. However considering the present times, it no longer becomes feasible. The disturbing fact is that the carnival committee and the authorities responsible for the old-route decision didn’t spare the thought of analysing the hardships faced by those in emergency, who have to reach the various hospitals, and more specifically Hospicio.”
Shadow Council has also demanded that no amount from the public exchequer should be spent to pay off the bills towards the work of erecting the pandol etc near municipal building.
“When the Carnival Celebration Committee was very well a party to yesterday’s High Court matter, they had no reason to go ahead with the works without adequate directions. Those individuals responsible for the expense should bear the costs of all the work,” said the Shadow Council.
