PANAJI: Around 50-odd India Against Corruption activists took the police establishment by surprise when they marched in an unannounced rally to chief minister Digambar Kamat's official residence at Altinho, Panaji.
With Kamat away in Margao, just a lone policeman was on guard at the main gate when the activists attempted to make their way inside.
Staff at the residence rushed to the gate to prevent the activists, and a police jeep arrived within minutes. Around 50 policemen and 100 CRPF personnel arrived at the site later.
The activists sat on an hour-long dharna outside the gate of the CM's residence as more sympathizers arrived. The crowd finally courted arrest around 7pm.
Addressing the activists Swati Kerkar of IAC said, "People are fed up of corruption and are rising against it. We are not willing to suffer any more. Anna Hazare has shown us the way."
Amid slogans of "inquilab zindabad" and "vande mataram", activist Prashanti Azgaonkar said, "I am here not on behalf of any political party but as I am an Indian first. We don't want our hard-earned money to be kept in some Swiss bank."
Satish Sonak of IAC said, "So far the youth of Goa have been tolerant. But we have been wasting our time praying for the chief minister to get well soon. Now we should pray for him to get lost soon."
Before courting arrest, Sonak said, "We are not going to jail because we are criminals or involved in scandals. We are going to jail because we love our country."
Christopher Fonseca, secretary, All India Trade Union Congress, said, "This struggle against corruption is spreading like fire everywhere, but the rulers like emperor Nero seem oblivious to this."
Police arrested and later released the activists unconditionally.
Sonak told TOI late Monday evening that the CM has assured the activists that he will call them for a meeting on the issue of lokayukta soon.
Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
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