Postpone Goa panchayat polls indefinitely: Sardesai

The Goa Forward Party on Friday urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to postpone the Zilla Panchayat polls indefinitely in light of the coronavirus outbreak, instead of delaying it by mere two days. The local body polls, which were scheduled to be held on March 22, were postponed to March 24.

GFP president Vijai Sardesai demanded the postponement of Zilla Panchayat elections to promote "social distancing", one of the preventive measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for 'janata' curfew is a welcome step, the former deputy chief minister said.

"Janata curfew is nothing but social distancing. It is considered as the only way to tackle this global pandemic," he said. Senior citizens form 11 per cent of the state's population and by holding the zilla panchayat elections, the Chief Minister is making them vulnerable to the virus, he claimed.

The Chief Minister seems to be taking the janata curfew casually, Sardesai said, adding that the lockdown is being observed to prepare people for more such happenings..

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