BICHOLIM: The sarpanch of Amona village panchayat in Bicholim taluka, Mr Narayan Sawant and his supporting panch members have made a demand that the Amona panchayat secretary, Mr Mahadev Naik, should be suspended, as he does not take the sarpanch and other panch members into confidence. Mr Sawant said that on the contrary the secretary has allegedly made changes in the resolutions passed in the members meeting.

Addressing a press conference at Bicholim, Mr Sawant informed that it was resolved in the meeting of panchayt members held on June 29, that the salary of the panchayat librarian should be increased. The resolution was put forwarded by former sarpanch, Mr Paresh Phadte and seconded by Mr Narayan Sawant, and was recorded correctly in the minutes book, and was also read during the meeting held on August 12. Mr Sawant claims that later, it was found that the name of the proposer was erased with correctional ink (white ink) and in its place was written the name of Ms Ujwala Ghadi, the deputy sarpanch.

As the panchayat librarian, Ms Ranjeeta Ghadi is a relative of Ms Ujwala Ghadi, Mr Sawant alleged that the secretary, plotted against the deputy sarpanch, Ms Ghadi to show her in bad light, as favouring her relative.

Mr Sawant informed that the issue came to light when one of the panch, Mr Santosh Sinari, sought the information under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

A complaint has been lodged at the Bicholim police station in this regard. Besides a memorandum of demand has been submitted to the Bicholim block development officer, signed by the sarpanch, the deputy sarpanch and the panch members.

The secretary, Mr Mahadev Naik has however denied the allegations made against him by Mr Sawant and the other panch members. He in turn, has alleged that it is Mr Sawant who has made the changes in the resolution, as the sarpanch had kept the register in his possession, Mr Naik added.