27th Jan ,2008 Press Release Women activists defied the police who tried to stop them from distributing pamphlets from 24th Jan outside the Grape Escapade venue ,in protest against the government promotion of alcohol and the brochure of GTDC which promoted Goa as a land of wine women and song
On 26th Jan, Republic Day a huge posse of police was brought in by the Government, in addition to the ones posted at the venue and the activists were asked to stop distributing the pamphlets by Police Inspector Sudesh Naik .The activists refused to budge stating that they were not doing anything illegal by distributing pamphlets and it is a shame that on Republic day the government was trying to curtail the freedom of speech. Ms Martins pointed out that it was the government that had broken the excise laws and violated the Constituion on Republic Day. The women challenged the police to arrest them and stood their ground. Eventually the extra posse of police was withdrawn and the activists continued the distribution. Earlier representatives of Balancho Saad , Bailancho Ekvott,All India Women’s Conference ,Positive people had met the Chief Secretary, Excise Commissioner and Goa Tourism and Development Corporation demanding that the Government withdraw from the event and shift the festival from government premises. When it was brought to the notice of the GTDC officials that the Directive Principles of the Constitution does not permit government to promote alcohol, the GTDC officials stated that it was too late to shift the venue and from next year the government body would not be involved. Since the government did not heed to the demands , activists protested outside the venue by distributing pamphlets to the festival goers on 24th ,25th and 26thJan Sabina Martins for BailanchoSaad
