Karwar youth protest at Polem over Goa entry fee

Poinguinim: Over 100 youth from Karwar staged a dharna near Goa-Karnataka

border

at

Polem

in

Canacona

, on Saturday. The youth threatened to stop vehicular traffic and supply of essentials from Karwar if the state borders are not opened from September 1.

They further threatened to hold a bigger protest from September 5 if “free traffic movement was not allowed”.

Representing the protesters gathered on the Karwar side of the border, Raghu Naik spoke to Canacona deputy collector Satish Prabhu and mamlatdar Vimod Dalal, who were also present at the spot, accusing the Goa government of harassing people from Karwar wanting to cross into Goa from Polem.

Naik further told Prabhu and Dalal that Goa government is modifying the Centre’s SOP for inter-state travel “as per their whims and fancies”.

“When Karnataka is supplying essential goods like milk, fish and vegetables, we find no reason as to why the Goa government is restricting free entry to the Karnatakis,” Naik said, accusing the state government of charging Rs 2,000 per person for entry into the state.

“In most cases, no receipts are issued nor are

Covid

tests done and when people demand receipts for the entry fee of Rs 2,000, people are being harassed and threatened with compulsory 14 days home quarantine,” Naik said, claiming that this allegation had gone viral on social media.

Naik also told the state authorities that Karwar MLA Rupali Naik had spoken to chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday, and conveyed the concerns of people from Karwar.

Meanwhile, former Karwar MLA Satish Sail has threatened to agitate on the Goa on Sunday.

The Canacona deputy collector told TOI that the Polem gates are open, and there are no restrictions provided those crossing have to undergo either

health

screening protocol, by paying Rs 2,000 or provide an ICMR approved certificate as per the government’s SOP.