St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar and Tushar Gawas on the fourth day of their hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Tuesday.
PANAJI
Defying mounting health concerns, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar on Tuesday resolved to continue his indefinite hunger strike demanding the scrapping of Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act.
His decision, which he claims is in the “State interest”, came even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant personally met him and urged him to withdraw the fast, citing his deteriorating condition and the need for dialogue.
Borkar’s fast entered its fourth day on Tuesday. The protest began last Friday with an intense sit-in at the TCP office and later shifted to Azad Maidan, where he launched an indefinite fast demanding the withdrawal of Section 39A — a provision, activists allege facilitates large-scale land conversions.
According to the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), Borkar’s condition worsened late Monday night, with a drop in vital health parameters, prompting his admission to a private hospital for medical attention. However, he returned to Azad Maidan on Tuesday morning and resumed his fast.
Doctors attending to him have advised that he consume at least three litres of water every hour to prevent dehydration. While he has agreed to continue drinking water, Borkar has refused to consume any solid food until the government announces the withdrawal of Section 39A.
On Tuesday evening, Sawant met Borkar at Azad Maidan and requested him to withdraw the fast on health grounds.
“I have told him, let us discuss the issue in the Assembly and finish off with the topic at the right forum. I have spoken to him positively about the demands put forth by him,” the Chief Minister told media.
Sawant appealed to the RGP legislator to reconsider his stand and call off the agitation. “He should consider my request and call off the strike. I am concerned about his health. I have also spoken to the doctor,” he added.
Following the Chief Minister’s visit, a joint meeting was held between Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, agitating villagers, like-minded citizens and Borkar. They attempted to persuade him to end his hunger strike, but he declined.
Later at night, Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar also met Borkar and requested him to call off the strike,
Borkar maintained that his fast would continue until the government makes a clear statement withdrawing Section 39A. He demanded that the State Cabinet take a formal decision to scrap the controversial provision and introduce a Bill in the Assembly to repeal it.
He further sought that the Advocate General file an affidavit in court stating that the government has cancelled all approvals granted for zone changes under Section 39A.
Borkar said the Chief Minister had assured him that the government would take a decision regarding applications granted provisional approvals and would examine cases involving final approvals.
“Unless these demands are met or the government makes a clear statement, my protest will continue. More than my health, Goa’s health is important. My hunger strike is in the interest of the State,” he said.
Around a hundred supporters staged a sit-in at Azad Maidan on Tuesday in solidarity with Borkar, pressing for the scrapping of Section 39A. Several protesters, however, also appealed to him to withdraw his fast considering his health condition.
Meanwhile, noted environmentalists Claude Alvares and Norma Alvares met Borkar at Azad Maidan and urged him to call off the hunger strike, expressing concern over his health. They said alternative democratic and legal avenues remain open to challenge the provision and assured him of their full support in pursuing a legal battle.
On Monday evening, several hundred protesters marched to and demonstrated outside the private residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane at Dona Paula. Following the protest, the Chief Minister appealed to the agitators not to “hold the State to ransom” and instead submit an appropriate representation to the government.
