Gomantak Times, 14/5/07
Lok Shakti Whips Communal forces
To submit memo to CS over Margao incidents
PITCHING FOR PEACE
MARGAO:THE NGO Lok shakti has strongly condemned the recent event that occurred in the city . Following a meeting of concerned citizens of all communities held at the Grace Church Hall, Margao on Sunday, the NGO has decided to meet the Chief Secretary (CS) J.P. Singh and submit a memorandum regarding the serious implications of the recent incidents that occurred in the city and to ensure that as citizens, there is no repetition of these events .
A press release issued by the Lok Shakti president, Dr Francisco Colaco stats that the sequence of events in the city during the last four days beginning with the incident of eve-teasing at New Market on Monday (May 7) including the disruption of the culture programme to promote communal harmony through music at the Ana Fonte Garden, Margao on Thursday (May 10) is a matter of the gravest concern for each and every law-abiding citizen of the state of Goa.
"The New Market Vendors Association call for a bandh on May 7 to protest against the incident of eve-teasing and subsequent assault and to demand the immediate arrest of the culprits, was a spontaneous reaction. It was, in effect, a people's protest against an episode that warrants condemnation from all quarters. What is disturbing is that this genuine protest was sought to be hijacked by lumpen elements owing
allegiance to a certain organization, whose communal antecedents and political links are well-known. Lok-shakti detests this modus operandi, a systematic and insidious deign of political gains by spreading communal hatred," the press note further states.
The Lok Shakti president remarks that the concerned citizens of Margao have voiced their fear to Lok Shakti that this was an attempt to incite communal riots on the lines of Curchorem. "This fear is pertinent, as it is learnt that one of the persons named in the Magistrate's report on the Curchorem riots as begin instrumental in spreading unsubstantiated rumours, resides in Margao, and is known to be very close to those who unsuccessfully attempted to hijack the cause. During the last four days, the rumour-mongering in Margao was exactly of the type which prevailed in Curchorem and which is known to be the handwork of these organizations all over the country," the press note adds.
While acknowledging that the police were, to a certain extent, effective in preventing any violence at Housing Board, Davorlim, Margao, Lok Shakti wonders whether the administration has taken note note of the various incidents of forcible closure of both commercial and non-communal establishments, stoning of petrol pumps which had opened in the evening after requests from the police themselves to cater to stranded vehicles owners, ransacking of gaddas, destruction of government property and inflammatory speeches (at last some of which have been apparently heard by members of the administration and police force providing security)and whether offences have been booked in connection with these incidents.
"The effect of the apparent inaction by the authorities was the Bajrang Dal activists, as reported by the press, were emboldened to threaten the organizers of a cultural programme being staged at the Ana Fonte Garden,Margao on Thursday evening. Lok Shakti feels that sought to promote communal harmony through music, the agenda of these organizations and their political masters stands exposed once again. Lok Shakti is of the opinion that with the approaching assembly elections, the perpetrators of the of the politics of hatred and communal divide will invent more such opportunities to foster violence and a sense of insecurity among the people of Margao and Goa. The only counter to such machinations is for peace-loving and law-abiding citizens to come together and present a united front against these divisive elements," Dr Colaco added.
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