MARGAO
With the Fatorda police issuing summons to the protesters charged for blocking traffic at Old Market a week ago to demand the arrest of Subhash Velingkar, protesters have cried foul to the police action as they demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIR filed against 500 persons.
The protesters have charged the Goa government with double standards and applying different yardsticks for different set of people. Claiming the government through the police is indulging in selective targeting to suit its vested interest, the protesters demanded to know how many people were booked by the Goa police when the NH66 was blocked at Cuncolim to demand the arrest of activist Shreya Dhargalkar and those indulging in hate speeches.
A group of protesters assembled near the Margao Municipal garden to condemn the government and the Goa police for meting out harassment to the people who had participated in the spontaneous agitation after Subhash Velingkar made derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier.
Addressing media, activist Pratima Coutinho blamed the government and the police responsible for forcing the people to take to the streets on Saturday last. “A couple of months ago, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had warned that those disturbing peace and amity would be arrested by the police. We would like to ask the Chief Minister why was there a delay by the police to even register FIR against Velingkar, leave alone his arrest for demanding DNA on the relic of St Xavier”, Pratima wondered.
She added that people of Goa would not have come on the streets had the government and the police acted promptly by registering a FIR. “The Fatorda police is selectively targeting protesters by summoning them to the police station. There were many people across political parties, including BJP leader Manohar Ajgaonkar, BJP-backed Margao Municipal Councillors, including Camilo Barretto and Milagrina Gomes, who had come on the roads in support of the demand action against Velingkar”, Pratima pointed out, while demanding to know whether the police would also call the BJP leaders for questioning.
Fidol from Majorda wondered why the police are targeting the handful of protestors when it was Subhash Velingkar, who had spoiled the peace in the State with his derogatory comments against St Xavier. “The police had brutally assaulted a senior citizen during the lathi charge. When I questioned them, I was detained by the police. And, now, the police is on the job to summon the protestors with the sole intention of meting out harassment”, Fidol said.
A resident of Cortalim Peter D’Souza has charged the government with trying to divert the attention of the people from the more serious issues plaguing the State. “The police have moved with alacrity to register cases against the protestors. We did not see the same zeal and enthusiasm by the police to book Velingkar”, he added.
A resident of Valpoi, Ashley Pinho said the Sawant, who is also the Home Minister should try to understand why people had to take to the streets on last Saturday.
Peter Viegas from Sao Jose de Areal contended the FIR registered by the Fatorda police is not just against the protesters, but the followers and devotees of St Francis Xavier.
