MAPUSA
Plans to erect a statue of the Maratha warrior king, Shivaji Maharaj in Bastora near Mapusa has created quite a stir, with the local Comunidade expressing strong opposition to the proposal.
The Sarpanch of Bastora, Subhash Morjakar, along with panch member Rajan Naroji and ex-sarpanch Savio Martins, had written to the Comunidade seeking permission to install the statue on survey no 23/6, which is tenanted land belonging to the Comunidade.
Following the receipt of the letter, the managing committee members of the Bastora Comunidade called an informal emergency meeting of the gaunkars.
At the meeting held on Thursday, attendees unanimously opposed the plan to install the statue.
President of the Bastora Comunidade, Sydney D’Souza told The Goan that the general consensus among Gaunkars was to deny permission for the statue’s installation.
“Everybody opposed the idea. We are not going to give permission to install the statue in the Comunidade land. Even if the tenant approves, the Comunidade will not allow it,” D’Souza affirmed.
He further informed that a general body of the Comunidade will soon be called to discuss the issue in detail.
According to former deputy sarpanch and gaunkar Andrew D’Souza, the proposed site for the statue is agricultural land where construction is prohibited. “We are not against Shivaji Maharaj, but why create unnecessary controversy?” he questioned.
Oscar D’Souza, another gaunkar, echoed the sentiment, emphasising that the decision must be ratified in the Comunidade’s general body.
“The issue is not about Shivaji Maharaj, it has become more political,” he added.
The plan entails installing a full-size statue of Shivaji Maharaj near the recently developed Bastora junction on land owned by the Comunidade.
Former sarpanch Savio Martins revealed that the local panchayat, along with former MLA Glen Ticlo, has endorsed the statue’s installation.
He said the plan was to install the statue on the birthday of the former MLA on March 12 but noted that the installation may be delayed due to delay in obtaining permission from the Comunidade.
“We will install the statue only after getting the NOC from the Comunidade,” he said.
