The government, by selectively targeting activists and local leaders involved in agitations, is setting a dangerous precedent in Goa, much on the lines of what is seen in the other BJP-ruled States. It sends out a malicious and disturbing signal to those raising voices against the system by threatening to demolish those waging battles based on their constitutional and fundamental right of expression and free speech.
If we may recall, the violence in Shel-Melaulim last week ended with police zeroing down and arresting three activists -- Vishwesh Parab, Shailendra Velingkar and Kalpesh Gaonkar, while also targeting Manoj Parab. The locals of Melauli had made it very clear that the agitation is solely driven by them, without any political agenda. Activists and political leaders joined it on their own accord. The peaceful protest on that fateful day erupted into violence only after the police decided to go on the offensive. Ironically, the police picked their targets while letting off several political leaders who too made their voices heard.
In the case of the agitation against double-tracking and coal transportation, convenors of the two groups spearheading the protests -- Goyat Kolso Naka and Goencho Ekvott -- have been consistently targeted with FIRs. The November 1 midnight protest at Chandor railway crossing was a massive show of solidarity with people from all walks of life joining in solidarity. However, police ended up booking offences against six activists on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly. Activists Abhijit Prabhudesai and Sandesh Talekar were summoned, grilled and intimidated for hours at the Maina-Curtorim police station. The activists spearheading the Mopa protests too met with a similar fate.
The government by hand-picking activist and treating them as perpetrators of violence is only playing vendetta politics. In the wake of the series of protests dotting the State, such high-handed and selective action could backfire. We have seen it at Melauli when lathis, teargas, arrests and FIRs failed to deter protesters. On the contrary, the locals gained sympathy from other villages of Guleli even after the police action and protests flared up. Women from across villages thronging the terrain fearlessly in support despite the heavy deployment of police only reflect the resilience behind this agitation.
In such a heated scenario, the government should have initiated measure to de-escalate tension rather than use this as an opportunity to target selective leaders. In an obvious attempt to dismantle groups by hitting their leaderships, the environment is further vitiated.
The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Indian Constitution and Article 19(1) guarantees the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In a free democracy, every citizen is entitled to his right to peaceful protests. The government must refrain from the criminalization of this right to protest. The authoritarian ways of resorting to punitive and repressive measures must stop, and peace should be restored in Goa.
