Venita Coelho, a glamorous script writer was removed from the gram sabha of
the Moira panchayat ostensibly for publishing an article in the media
accusing the panchayat of hiring rowdies and goondas for the gram sabha held
earlier in July 2008. Vithaldas Hegde and Nilesh Khandeparkar spoke to Moira
sarpanch Adv Raghuvir Bagkar and Venita Coelha respectively, to get the real
story.
Venita is misguiding people: Bagkar
Q. What is the exact reason for ejecting Venita Coelho from the gram sabha
held on October 26?
Ans: Venita is unnecessarily creating an issue to seek mileage and public
sympathy and trying to cover up the real facts by misguiding the people. She
was removed from gram sabha only after the villagers made a vociferous
demand that Venita should publicly apologise and leave the meeting hall, for
publishing an article in a section of press stating that Moira village
panchayat had hired rowdies and goondas for the gram sabha held earlier in
July 2008. The article was published a week before the gram sabha on October
21.
Secondly the villagers wanted to know whether Venita possesses an Electors
Photo Identity Card (EPIC) since she was a new settler in Moira and is
participating in the gram sabha.
Q. Is that reason enough to remove a villager from participating In the gram
sabha?
Ans: Venita is a new settler in Moira and has been staying in Moira for
about one-and-half-years. Since there were doubts whether Venita is a voter
from Moira villager, I requested her to show proof so as to clear the doubts
from the minds of the villagers. But she was stub-born. She refused to do
so. All this has happened in the presence of the observer deputed by the
Bardez BDO.
Q. But Venita claims that she is enrolled as a voter in Moira village
falling In Tivim constituency. What is your contention?
Ans: As far as I know she has recently say 15 days before this gram sabha,
submitted an application for inclusion of her name in electoral rolls. It is
still under process before the Electoral Registration Officer at Mapusa. The
panchayat is yet to get a copy of the supplementary elector's voters list
and only then her name would be enrolled as a voter. We gave her time to
bring her proof so as to clear the doubts. But she refused to do so.
Q. But there has been widespread condemnation over the panchayat's action to
remove Venita during the gram sabha by using police. Comment.
Ans: It all started during one of the ordinary gram sabhas held on April 27,
2008 when Venita signed the attendance book and raised several issues much
to everyone's surprise. After the gram sabha we enquired in the village and
found that she hailed from Mumbai and had bought a house in Moira. During
the next gram sabha held on July 27, 2008 where Venita was also present, one
of the villagers James D'Souza demanded that Venita's name be struck off
from the attendance book signed in April since she was not a voter and that
she be not allowed to participate in the proceedings of the grant sabha. Yet
Venita attended the meeting.
Then came the third gram sabha on October 26 wherein I personally requested
Venita and her colleague Tanya Mendonca not to sign on the attendance book.
But Venita told me that she will sign and told me to 'do whatever you want'.
Venita even told me that it is her right to sign. Both of 'them signed and
sat down.
When the proceedings of the gram sabha started the villagers interrupted the
meeting and raised the issue of article published by Venita that the Moira
panchayat had hired rowdies and goondas for the gram sabha. Nobody abused
her but wanted Venita to apologise and leave the hall. She refused to
apologise and leave the hall. As the situation was getting tense with
villagers not allowing us to continue the gram sabha, and further; Venita
refusing to show her proof. we asked the police to remove her.
Q. Is it true that the panchayat was getting uncomfortable due to various
issues raised by Moira Action Committee, of which Venita is also a member?
Ans: This is absolutely false. Moira Action Committee is a group of handful
people and most of its members including a former sarpanch are involved in
illegal constructions/activities in the village. We have already issued show
cause notices to them while, the Bardez BDO has recently dismissed the
appeal filed by the former sarpanch.
The Moira Action Committee in July distributed pamphlets in the village
containing false allegations and tried to defame the name of the panchayat
and its members. We have reported this matter to the police.
Q. Does this matter attract police investigation?
Ans: Yes. The panchayat body unanimously resolved that the Moira Action
Committee is not a registered body and hence they are indulging in defaming
the name of the panchayat and its members. On August 25, we lodged a
complaint at Mapusa police station asking police to investigate the matter
since the so called Moira Action Committee was wasting time of the panchayat
and posing obstruction in carrying out the daily routine work.
Q. In what way has the Moira Action Committee tried to defame the village
panchayat?
Ans: In the pamphlet they gave wrong information about two housing projects.
In the case of one of the projects coming up at Povacao ward, the panchayat
issued licence only after the Town and Country Planning department gave NOC
after the builder submitted a revised plan. They also mentioned that the
same lawyer was representing both the builder in question and the panchayat.
But this is false because the panchayat never hired the services of a lawyer
and panchayat secretary has represented the village panchayat. In the last
gram sabha Venita wanted to talk on these so called illegal projects which
are now sub-judice.
Q. What is your reaction to Moira Action Committee's claim of submitting a
20-Year Development Plan for the village?
Ans: During the second gram sabha held on July 27, former sarpanch Vigilia
D'Sa and Wendy D'Sa on behalf of Moira Action Committee submitted its letter
regarding 20-Point Development Plan. The panchayat admitted that the
proposed Plan was good and decided to invite suggestions from the villagers.
'But only the above two signatories submitted their suggestions. The
panchayat has now formed a committee comprising two villagers from each ward
to study the Plan. Venita was nowhere in the picture and she is now just
trying to take revenge on the panchayat for issuing show cause notice to her
for constructing an illegal garage and a room.
(ENDS)
==============================================================================
The above article appeared in the November 3, 2008 edition of the Gomantak
Times, Goa and was transcribed from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukextras/3003478057/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukextras/3004314440/sizes/l/
