MARGAO
All eyes are focused on Saturday’s Lohia Maidan rally coinciding with the 54th Opinion Poll Day, which is expected not just to commemorate the historic event, but chalk out the action plan to demand the scrapping of the controversial projects and save Goa from destruction.
The rally centered on the theme, Goenkar “ Ek Pavl Ekcharanchem, is expected to adopt a host of resolutions on the controversial projects to save Goa from destruction and to protect it for posterity.
Opposition party MLAs and representatives, including Independent MLAs, are expected to participate in the celebrations and rally organized and supported by as many as 80 organizations working across the state.
A number of organizations fighting against coal and the three linear projects have joined other NGOs to organize the celebrations, which is expected to set the agenda for the government to scrap the controversial projects.
That the organisations have made a call to the people of Goa to come in large numbers to the Lohia Maidan on Saturday evening and take a pledge to protect Goa for future generations. The rally indicates that a strong message is likely to go to the government that enough is enough and it was time to act by scrapping the controversial projects.
Meanwhile, the Goa Forward has extended support to the call of various NGOs to celebrate the 54th Anniversary of the Opinion Poll Day in honour of The Father of the Opinion Poll, Dr Jack Sequeira and various other leaders who helped protect Goa from being merged into Maharashtra and maintaining its unique identity.
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai said, “This call is for all of us to unite against the forces of the current government who are striving hard to finish our identity by imposing on us anti-people projects like coal transportation through our pristine villages, double-tracking of railway lines for coal transportation by breaking our ancestral houses, power stations by cutting and destroying our forests, all in the name of development. These are the very same people who
have sold our Mhadei to Karnataka under instructions of the dictatorial central BJP government.”
Sardesai added: “Let’s all assemble at Lohia Maidan, Margao, tomorrow to support this cause and stand united to protect our Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn”.
Meanwhile, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Girish Chodankar has said that the party has advanced its annual Opinion Poll day function scheduled at Quepem at 5.30 pm to the South Goa District Congress office, Margao, at 3 pm.
He said the Congress took the decision to hold the function at the district party office instead of Quepem at the request of various organizations organizing the Opinion Poll day public meeting at the Lohia Maidan on Saturday.
GPCC General Secretary Subhash Faldesai has said the decision has been taken in the larger interest of Goa.
