MARGAO
With the government coming out clear to oppose the discharge applications filed by the four accused persons in the historic midnight Chandor agitation case, the anti-coal activists charged by the Goa police pointed out they had no expectations from the present government to bail them out in the cases.
They have vowed to fight the government and the Goa police in the Courts, exuding confidence that the truth will finally prevail no matter the number of false cases foisted by the ruling dispensation.
In fact, co-convenor of Goyant Kollso Naka, Abhijit Prabhudesai, who is one of the accused who had filed for discharge in the case, said many have thought the government would retreat gracefully since there’s no merit in the case, but hastened to add that they never expected much from a government which has no grace left in it.
“We are absolutely not taken by surprise over the government’s stand in the court to oppose the applications for discharge moved by the activists in the historic 2020 Chandor midnight agitation case. Many might have expected the government to retreat gracefully in the case, but this government has no grace left to show to the people,” Abhijit said.
The anti-coal activists have vowed to fight the government in the court. “We have full faith in the Judiciary and the people of Goa. We along with the people have been waging a struggle to save Goa and I am confident we will emerge victorious,” he said.
He added: “The case foisted by the Maina-Curtorim police has no basis at all. The police have charged the 10 activists for causing wrongful restraint at the Chandor road crossing when the road was already closed by an order of the District Magistrate to lay the double track on the intervening night of November 1-2, 2020. Where is the question of the people committing any offence when the road in question was already closed for traffic?”
Another anti-coal activist, Capt Viriato Fernandes, who has been named as an accused in the case, has echoed similar sentiments. Capt Viriato was not amongst the four activists who has filed for discharge in the case, but he was categorical in saying the activists had no expectations from the BJP-led government to back out from the legal battle. “How can you expect the government, which has foisted false and fabricated cases against its people fighting to save the State from destruction, to back out and allow the discharge of the activists from the case,” Viriato wondered.
He asserted that the activists will continue to fight the government in the courts and outside and to save Goa from destruction.
The public prosecutor representing the government had on Friday prayed to the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao for the dismissal of the applications filed for discharge by four out of the 10 activists charged in the case, contending that the applications for discharge filed by the social activists are unfounded and devoid of any merit and deserve to be dismissed.
