Delegation of Mapusa based Political office bearers, social workers & activists comprising of Shivsena (UBT)Goa State Chief Jitesh Kamat, GPCC General Secretary Vijay Bhike, RTI Activist Jawaharlal Shetye, Mapusa Youth Organization President Pravin Asolkar, Online News Editor & Social worker Shekhar Naik and GPCC Secretary Sanjay Barde met & submitted Memorandum to the Honorable Governor of Goa Shri. Shridharan Pillai.

Delegation of Mapusa based Political office bearers, social workers & activists comprising of Shivsena (UBT)Goa State Chief Jitesh Kamat, GPCC General Secretary Vijay Bhike, RTI Activist Jawaharlal Shetye, Mapusa Youth Organization President Pravin Asolkar, Online News Editor & Social worker Shekhar Naik and GPCC Secretary Sanjay Barde met & submitted Memorandum to the Honorable Governor of Goa Shri. Shridharan Pillai. While briefing media outside Raj Bhavan at Dona Paula, Jitesh Kamat informed that they have submitted the Memorandum regarding cases filed on social workers, activists & Politicians during COVID19 pandemic lockdown. Further he revealed that one of such cases has been filed on the said delegation. There was an illegal land development work being carried out in the guise of lockdown by excavating the traditional Football & Cricket playground at Cuchelim Mapusa. Ground was being converted into plots by constructing roads & gutters. On 17th May 2020, Some locals from the vicinity informed the social activists including political leaders about the illegal activities. All in their individual capacity rushed at the site. Hundreds of people gathered there and stopped the illegal work. Later, Mapusa Municipal Council too, served the stoppage notice, directing them to reinstate the playground, which they didn’t do till date, stated Kamat.Media and Police too had reached the site. On 20th May 2020, they were served Notice under Section 41(A) and we’re booked under sections 143,269,188 r/w 149 IPC for violating IPC Section 144. They have been chargesheeted and trial is goin on in the court, informed Kamat. Further he expressed anger over targeting few from the mob and filling such cases on the people for stopping illegalities but not initiating any action against the people indulged in such illegalities. Such cases are bad in law and injustice to the people fighting to save Goa, says Kamat. During COVID19, most of the people from the field of social, political, medical and media have taken a risk and worked fearlessly to help the needy. The government has itself honoured some people for being COVID19 Worriers, Kamat reminds. So why do these double standards in a few of the cases, Kamat questioned and expressed doubt of targeting opposition to suppress their voice.
Kamat informed the Press that Honorable Governor Pillaiji, listened to their grievances and advised them to approach the appropriate department as Raj Bhavan has limited constitutional powers and further expressed satisfaction for guiding them regarding the whole episode. RTI activist Jawaharlal Shetye thanked the Governor for his humble attitude and said that meeting the Hon. Governor was very fruitful as they will now adopt all the advice given to them by the Honorable Governor and save the Cuchelim Ground. GPCC General Secretary Vijay Bhike said that they will take information about all other such cases in the state through RTI and give a representation to the government to quash the FIR. Also they will initiate all the necessary steps to file complaints against the people tried to do illegal things and tried to grab the land in the guise of lockdown. He said that because of their step Cuchelim Ground still exists and youths play there or else there would have been one more land grabbing case and houses would have been constructed by now loosing the only open playground.

Photo Caption: Hon. Governor Shridharan Pillai reading the memorandum. Also seen Jitesh Kamat, Vijay Bhike, Jawaharlal Shetye, Pravin Asolkar, Shekhar Naik and Sanjay Barde.