the goan I network
PANAJI
Both the Congress and the AAP came down heavily on the BJP-led government for its ‘insensitiveness’ in arresting villagers protesting against dust pollution.
Addressing media persons at a press conference Goa Congress President Luizinho Faleiro accused the government of acting like Salazar in keeping the villagers behind bars for six days.
“Please have some compassion for the poor people who are only seeking clean air and water. What sadistic
pleasure is the government deriving out of the arrests of these people and their presence in judicial custody?” Faleiro asked.
“Criminals are going scot-free and the poor people who are suffering are being put behind bars,” Faleiro said.
Meanwhile AAP has condemned the state administration’s action of arresting villagers of Sonshi who were protesting against the indiscriminate mining and ore transportation in violation of Supreme Court and High Court directions.
A fact-finding team of AAP visited the village and interacted with the residents Monday morning. “The quantum of trucks plying on the road through Sonshi village
is far above the 2-trucks-per-minute prescribed by the courts,” the AAP said.
The police and the officers of state administration have acted not as public servants but as agents of the mining companies involved.
The arrest of the villagers for over a week has caused immense anxiety, heartburn and hardships to the children and aged residents of Sonshi.
AAP accused the government of abdicating it’s responsibility to monitor the
mining industry which
has thrown to the winds all safeguards directed by
the courts.
“The government has mechanism to even ensure the 20 million tonnes annual cap prescribed by the
Supreme Court is adhered to,” the party said in a statement.
