Section 144 imposed around Goa's Manohar International Airport amid protest call by locals
Panaji (PTI): The North Goa district administration has imposed CrPC section 144 around the Manohar International Airport and nearby villages to prevent unlawful assembly for two months in view of a call for blocking its road given by people who have lost their land for the airport project.
The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022.
District Collector Mamu Hage in the order issued on Tuesday said it has been brought to the notice by police that those who have lost their land for the airport in Pernem taluka, and people from Mopa, Warkhand, Nagzar and Chandel have been protesting under the banner of 'Together for Pednekars'.
The protesters have been demanding that they may be given first preference to register their yellow black taxis for plying from the airport, located at Mopa, along with a separate counter and not allow taxis of Ola and Uber (private aggregators) to ply from this facility, the order noted.
The North Goa superintendent of police has given information that the protestors are likely to gather in large numbers at the Nagzar sports ground, "disrupt the free flow of traffic and create law and order situation" on the route from the Manohar International Airport to Sukhekulan Junction at Dhargal, it said.
In view of an upcoming G20 meet in Goa, there is a possibility that activities of the association (protesters) may obstruct free flow of vehicles and the general public, the order said.
"Therefore, he (SP North) has requested to impose section 144 of CrPC in the area of the road leading from the Mopa airport to Sukhekulan junction at Dhargal," it said.
The section (preventing unlawful assembly) has also been imposed in 500 metres area around the Manohar International Airport and in Nagzar, Varkhand, Uguve, Chandel-Hassapur and Casarvanem villages, the order said.
The collector said the order would be in force for next 60 days.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
