The Bombay High Court in Goa criticised the Civil Aviation Ministry on grounds of giving permission to BJP President Amit Shah to hold a meeting on the airport premises.

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in Goa, comprising Justices F.M. Reis and Nutan Sardessai, issued notices returnable in three weeks to the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Chief Secretary of Goa, Director General of Police, the Airport Director and the Deputy Commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on a petition filed seeking a thorough probe into the BJP national president Amit Shah's public meeting held at the Dabolim Airport in Goa on July 1. (www.thehindu.com)

Amit Shah was allowed to address a meeting of party workers inside the airport which was completely contrary to regulations. The civilian airport which functions within the naval air base was set up with a carpeted podium, a dozen chairs for the 'dignitaries' and a sound system with a lectern at the entrance to the Dabolim airport terminal before Shah's 11.15 a.m. arrival. No information was provided to the journalists about such a meeting. (www.thewire.in)

To welcome Shah Goa Chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Union minister Sripad Naik, local party chief Vinay Tendulkar and minister Mauvin Godinho were present. A crowd had also been bussed in to attend the meeting. (www.thewire.in)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vQmXzXTmU8

The legal action

A day after BJP president Amit Shah addressed a public meeting at the Goa airport complex, lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues filed a complaint with the Civil Aviation Authority, Chief Secretary of Goa and the Director General of Police against party Chief Amit Shah and Goa Cheif Minister Manohar Parrikar terming the meet as "gross abuse of power". (www.indiatoday.intoday.in)

He demanded that action must be taken against the organisers of the meeting held at the Goa airport.

He also pointed out that passengers being dropped or picked up from the Goa airport are not allowed even a five minutes halt. According to the rules laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation congregation of people is barred outside airports. (www.thewire.in)

Rodrigues not only demanded that an FIR be registered against the organisers and all dignitaries including Amit Shah. He also demanded action against the public servants responsible for the security of the area for dereliction of duty.

Though no official statement has come so far from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the state Congress was quick to hit out calling it 'abuse of power'. (indiatoday.intoday.in)