Cortalim meet truns unruly over river nationalisation

VASCO

Verna Police arrested a 43-year-old man Ryan Gomes from Novangully, Varca, for allegedly creating
chaos at the gram sabha and abusing Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira. He was later released on bail.
Sarpanch Pereira and Deputy Sarpanch Raymond De Sa have blamed Olencio Simoes, who is a member of Goa Against Coal (GAC),
for allegedly disrupting the gram sabha by instigating people and creating chaos by bringing outsiders at the gram sabha.
The gram sabha was to adopt a resolution to oppose coal movement and nationalisation of rivers
in Goa along with other issues and Simoes and other GAC members were present at the gram sabha.
The gram sabha witnessed ruckus when Sarpanch Pereira told Simoes not to instigate members and occupy a seat separately.
"We had allowed these people to attend the gram sabha out of goodwill, but they started instigating
other people and later charged at our members," said Sarpanch Pereira.
At this, the members got into argument and police had to be summoned to stop the altercation.
The resolution to oppose coal movement and nationalisation of rivers in Goa was adopted, but with the scenes getting violent, the panchayat secretary called off the gram sabha.
The police force had to be summoned when the situation started going out of control with the members allegedly trying to confront and threaten each other. During the commotion, Pereira informed that a person had abused her.
"He is not a gram sabha member nor do I know him. How can he abuse the sarpanch? I will file a police complaint against him. This is a pre-planned
move to create chaos and disrupt the gram sabha," said the sarpanch.
Deputy Sarpanch Raymond De Sa said:
"Simoes is not a gram sabha member and
I opposed the move of a member, who was trying to make Simoes speak at the gram sabha.
Our members do not require outsiders to get their issues solved. We have already passed a resolution to oppose nationalisation of rivers in Goa."
Later, the police took charge of the situation and Ryan Gomes, who allegedly abused the sarpanch, was told to remain
present at Verna Police Station along with the sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and panchas.