Anti-Mopa airport protestors warn of larger protest

THE GOAN NETWORK | OCTOBER 23, 2020, 12:29 AM IST
Anti-Mopa airport protestors warn of larger protest

PERNEM
Anti-Mopa airport protestors on Wednesday night threatened a larger protest if Mopa locals were not given job opportunities at the proposed airport.

Several local leaders and protestors had gathered at the Pernem police station to express their support to Mopa Deputy Sarpanch Subodh Mahale, Siddhesh Mahale and Umesh Varak who were arrested on Wednesday, based on a complaint by a construction company linked to the airport. They were released on bail later at night.

"Arresting us does not mean we will keep quiet. It is a spark that will spread like fire," said Deputy Sarpanch Subodh Mahale, while speaking to reporters outside the police station.

"The process to acquire land for the airport started in 2008. It was every Pednekar's wish for the airport to happen as it would transform the taluka like never before.”

“But landowners were paid a paltry Rs 30 instead of Rs 3,000 per sq metre. We are fighting for jobs and compensation for our land through the Mopa Airport Sangharsh Samiti. But the police has considered fake complaints against the locals,” said Mahale.

Former sarpanch Chandrashekar Khadapkar claimed that voices of locals were intentionally suppressed.

"Pednekar's are being forced to keep mum. We will have to come up with the Babu Ajgaonkar Hataav agitation," he said.

Congress spokesperson Vithu Morajkar also condemned the arrest of the three locals.

Murari Parab claimed that despite being an advocate, Pernem PSI Prafull Giri did not allow him to meet the accused in jail.

“I was not allowed to discuss the bail with them. No policemen can stop an advocate from contacting his client. I'll be filing a case against the PSI in this connection,” he added.

Protestors complained that there had been no police action on their complaint regarding the assault on Siddhesh Mahale on October 19, but police had been quick to arrest three protestors based on a complaint by the company.

"If political figures try to suppress our voice, our protest will intensify. We are fighting for the land that is our own," said one of the protestors.

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