the goan I network
Panaji
Stating that the number of development projects being undertaken by the government in Goa was unnecessary, around 40 activists came together to condemn these, and raise awareness for the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights on Tuesday. They held a march called ‘Samvidhan Samman Yatra 2018.’
“This march is to uphold the values of the Constitution. The rights of citizens over their own resources are being trespassed by various government agencies,” said Eric Pinto, the Goa convenor of the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM). “There’s been an unnecessary profusion of roads, unnecessary widening of roads, highways, railways are being double tracked without need. We have never asked for this,” said Pinto.
Pinto also pointed out that casinos were opposed by a large number of citizens across all spectrum, but their wishes were not being honoured.
A delegation also met the Captain of Ports James Braganza to voice their grievances against the upgradation of the port in Goa, which is being made a coal hub. Further, they submitted a memorandum to him asking for all Sagarmala projects in Goa to be stopped.
Through the yatra, the activists also aim to find people-oriented solutions to all these problems. “Projects are not supposed to be for the benefit of a select few people,” said Advocate Albertina Almeida. “All people need to benefit from these,” she pointed out.
Among others who spoke were Praful Samantra from Odisha, Krishna Khan from Gujarat, and Gabrielle Dietrich from Tamil Nadu. Activist groups from Goa joined with activists from other states under the umbrella NAPM to continue their ongoing fight to “Save the Constitution.”
In the morning, the group visited Mopa and expressed solidarity with those who were affected and whose lands taken away due to the Mopa Airport project. The activists came together at Caritas Centre, St Inez, to discuss other problems affecting the common citizens of Goa.
Later in the afternoon, they gathered at Azad Maidan to sing songs in protest, and raise awareness of the government not upholding the Constitution, in order to serve the interests of capitalists, thus ignoring the rights of the aam aadmi. This is the sixth state the yatra has come to.
‘Govt dividing people in the
name of Hindu Rashtra’
PANAJI: Prafulla Samantra from Odisha, winner of the Goldman Environment Award 2017, condemned the divisions being created among people in the name of a Hindu Rashtra. He was addressing to mediapersons at Azad Maidan.
“In the name of Hindu Rashtra, politicians are diverting peoples’ attention from right to resources. There was agriculture by indigenous people. Now in the name of development, all this is being destroyed. People of Goa are not benefitting,” said Samantra.
Another activist Krishna Khan reminded that the Constitution bound all Indians. “No mobs can rule this country. No mobs can dictate what we should wear, what we should eat, what we should follow and preach. We are also opposing that,” said Khan.
