Verbal clash between BJP, Cong workers at Margao’s Tika Utsav

NT NETWORK

Margao

Tika Utsav –  the vaccination drive against COVID-19 –  in Margao  on Thursday saw  verbal clash between the local  BJP and Congress workers as both the groups  tried to  score brownie points over each other under the name of  vaccination.

Fearing that heated arguments could turn ugly, police presence was sought to resolve the issue.  Thursday was the last day of the four-day  Tika Utsav in Margao.  

The incident occurred in the morning at the  Dayvadhnya hall, Margao.  While the Congress workers claimed that the Tika Utsav was organised in Margao  by Margao legislator and leader of opposition Digambar Kamat  and that the entire arrangement, including serving of snacks and  water to the health department staff, providing service to the people of Margao was done by him, and that the  BJP workers wanted to take credit with photos.

The BJP workers of Margao on the other hand said the health official had sought ambulance at the spot, which was sponsored to Margao BJP. “We made  all the  arrangement for this COVID vaccination programme.  Special care was also taken to see that the bed-ridden also  get COVID vaccine and the programme was smoothly going on. Suddenly one van came and argued that they wanted to go in. I intervened asking who they are and if they have come for vaccination, please enter. They told me that they are  BJP workers and wanted to serve water and  snacks. I  responded to it stating that we have done the  arrangement, but one of the  BJP workers  forcefully started arguing. They came with an ambulance with the  BJP banner, which was objected to. Police were called and police told them to  remove the banner  placed on the ambulance,” explained the  vice chairperson of the MMC, who is backed by  Margao legislator Digambar Kamat.

On the other hand,  Navin Pai Raikar,  BJP leader from Margao  criticised Kamat for playing politics.  “The health officer requested  for  ambulance service from us.  We have a sponsored   ambulance for  Margao  BJP and hence had the banner.  This was objected to by the police. We respected the police and removed  the banner. Kamat is playing dirty politics using  Congress workers. People should condemn  such cheap politics of  Kamat,”  he said.