CANACONA
Over 150 activists from different walks of life joined GAKUVED arranged candlelight march at Chaudi to protest against government apathy towards traditional residents’ rights over the land earmarked by the government for the now scrapped IIT Goa campus at Shel-Melauli in Sattari.
The candlelight march was organised to highlight the government dictatorship and police atrocities on womenfolk at Melauli-Sattari by Gawda, Kunbi, Velip Dhangar Federation and supported by Canacona branches of Gomantak Gad Maratha Samaj, Bible Research Centre, Aam Admi Party, Congress, Adivasi Sanghatana among others.
"The Melauli Agitation is not only to oppose the IIT but also to highlight the plight of land rights of the traditional residents, enjoying the lands for many years. Subsequent governments have done injustice to the common man. The farmers' names, who are original residents, are excluded," informed Adv John Fernandes.
"Presently not only at Sattari or Melauli, but the same situation prevails at every Goan rural area," Gavda, Kunbi Velip Dhangar Federation Secretary, Rupesh Velip informed.
Velip further said that the government has so far only verbally scrapped the proposed IIT project at Melauli, but have given no written guarantee.
"Names of traditional farmers and residents of Melauli should reflect on form I & XIV building away with IIT, and Police Inspector Sagar Ekoskar should not only be suspended but terminated from service for his inhuman act against women at Melauli," stated Uday Gaonkar.
Speakers at the candlelight march also alleged that the government has failed to initiate any project for the benefit of the people, and had been taking and have only become a U-turn specialist government.
AAP Spokesperson Sandesh Telekar, Canacona Block Congress President Prahlay Bhagat, Shristhal Panchayat panch Ramu Naik were among the few others who spoke at the candlelight march.
