TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Uproar and bedlam marked the gram sabha of Aquem-Baixo Village Panchayat on Sunday over the holding of the meeting on Carnival day.
A group of gram sabha members vehemently opposed the meeting when it was called to order by Sarpanch Deepa Naik.
The meeting initially was adjourned for want of quorum, and when the Sarpanch decided to go ahead with the meeting as per the procedures, a group of members stormed inside the meeting hall and demanded its adjournment to any other day.
Heated arguments ensued between the Sarpanch and the members, who pointed out that the panchayat should respect the sentiments of the majority of the people from the village.
They demanded to know why the Sarpanch was so keen in having the meeting on Carnival day when people are in a festive mood.
Members further pointed out that the Sarpanch had held the last gram sabha on the day of the “Maddi” of Navelim Church.
Rejecting all pleas for postponement of the meeting, Sarpanch Deepa went ahead with the two-point agenda amidst uproar by the members. Interestingly, after the Secretary read the two issues listed on the agenda, the Sarpanch wound up the meeting saying there’s no other business to transact.
A handful of policemen, who made their presence felt at the meeting hall and later called for reinforcements after the Sarpanch was seen asking the policemen to intervene.
The Sarpanch informed that the panchayat was not aware that the gram sabha would fall on Carnival day.
