State party chief signals shift amid Mirabag stir and 39A heat ahead of Assembly session
DIFFERENT STROKEs: BJP State President Damu Naik tries his hand at batting after inaugurating a cricket tournament at the SAG grounds in Fatorda on Saturday.
MARGAO
In a significant shift in tone, State BJP President Damu Naik on Saturday stated that the government should not impose development projects if they are opposed by the people.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cricket tournament at the SAG grounds in Fatorda, Naik said development is meant for the people and cannot be pursued against their wishes.
“If the people do not want any project, the government should not force those projects on them. Ultimately, development is meant for the people. The government undertakes development for their benefit. But if people do not want it, there is no question of bulldozing projects through,” he said.
Naik was responding to questions about ongoing agitations and protests across Goa, and whether they could impact the BJP’s prospects in the 2027 Assembly elections.
When asked about the Mirabag agitation, where residents have been protesting for the past 19 days against the construction of a bandhara, and remarks reportedly made by Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar that the issues raised by protesters were not significant, Naik said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is aware of the situation.
He added that the party has requested the Chief Minister to examine the matter and take an appropriate decision after giving due attention to the concerns raised.
Responding to queries about reports that the Revolutionary Goans Party and the Aam Aadmi Party may form an alliance for the 2027 Assembly polls, Naik said the BJP is unconcerned about developments within opposition ranks.
“The opposition knows what is happening on their side. We are not interested in what is happening there. The BJP is focused on its work and is relying on the party’s organisational strength to move forward,” he said.
The BJP State president’s comments come against the backdrop of the agitation at the Azad Maidan, Panaji led by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar and the residents of the constituency and supported by the people of Goa.
The statement further assumes significance ahead of the forthcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly which is expected to see a renewed call by the Opposition MLAs to the government to scrap the controversial Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act.
