RTI activists becoming Faltu: Cabral
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 02 April 2013 17:12 IST
“RTI activists are becoming Faltu”. The charge was made by Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral in the Assembly today.
At the same time, Speaker Rajendra Arlekar warned the RTI activists as well as the media to make statements in a responsible manner, failing which he will have to act.
The whole discussion was surrounding the attack on a small group of RTI activists in Margao by hundreds of mining dependent people on 2 March, when they had gathered to discuss the Shah Commission report in a small hall.
RTI Forum secretary Shrikant Barve, on 21 March, had complained about the incident while producing photographs of those who came to attack the small group of 15 activists.
Fearing mounting tension and law and order problem, the Forum had then cancelled the meeting.
He had alleged that one of those seen prominently in the photograph was a nephew of Sanguem MLA Subhash Faldesai.
“He is not my nephew. How did police register a complaint”, asked Faldesai.
“Tomorrow they will file a complaint against me. These RTI activists are becoming Faltu”, shouted Cabral.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar admitted in his written reply that there was a possibility of violence at the spot,
However, during discussion, he said there was neither assault nor violence but only intimidation.
“It was wrong on the part of the people to go there and stop a rightful meeting and even flooding the hall. We will not tolerate even such intimidation”, said the chief minister.
At the same time, he said very little could be done about the complaint now since it has been filed almost 10 days later.
Referring to the photographs produced by the RTI activists about the whole incident, Parrikar said such photographs cannot be an evidence but only circumstantial evidence.
The police have filed a complaint against unknown persons.
Incidentally, in a separate reply to the question asked by Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monseratte, Parrikar admitted that the police reports indicate that things in the mining belt have reached a boiling point.
As a preventive measure, he said the police are keeping strict vigil while the government has formulated rehabilitation schemes.
In view of this, said Parrikar, no safety concern exists as far as the environmental activists are concerned.
He also said thus the question of taking steps like preventive detention of those, who may harm the activists, does not arise.
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