MARGAO
Goyant Kollso Naka has said it is both happy and sad over the developments unfolding in the Goa Assembly on Friday, with GKN co-convenors Abhijit Prabhudesai and Xavier Fernandes making a fervent plea to the MLAs to raise the issue again in the House, promising support from the people of Goa.
After the government disallowed division of votes on the issue in the Assembly, GKN delegation told the media near the railway tracks here in the evening that though 34 out of the 36 MLAs had expressed their support to the anti-coal agitation, many might have not come out in support to the demand to scrap the three linear projects in the House either out of fear of ED or IT raids or because of their political affiliations.
“We are happy that our MLAs have spoken the truth on the floor of the House vis-à-vis the three linear projects. They have fully exposed the issue from their hearts. We were hoping that the resolution to scrap the three projects will be scrapped, but there was no division and voting,” he said.
He added: “We have seen from our eyes that many MLAs, who want to save Goa, did not speak since their hands and legs are tied. But, we again appeal to them to rise above party affiliations and scrap the project in the interest of Goa and the future generations.”
To a question, Abhijit said the Chief Minister had assured the GKN delegation that he would issue an order to stop the work on the balance stretch of the double tracking project. “Many MLAs had expressed their support to the agitation, but now it appears that they are all slaves to their political masters,” he said.
Abhijit pointed out that MLAs coming out in support of the demand to scrap the three linear projects will earn 10 times more respect from Delhi.
When asked the development in the Assembly is a setback to the agitation. Abhijit shot back “This is not a setback. Our agitation has gone too far. The truth is coming out everyday. The government has nothing to argue and hence is trying to bulldoze its way.”
