OLD GOA
Slogans against BJP and its national spokesperson Shaina N C rented the air as over three thousand people participated in the maha-morcha at Old Goa, on Sunday, demanding demolition of the structure within heritage precincts of St Cajetan Church.
The participants included priests, nuns, students, activists, lawyers, politicians, historians, architects and others.
They have now decided to take on the ruling party politically and ensure its defeat if the structure is not demolished before the onset of the Assembly elections.
The maha-morcha started from the Gandhi Circle and culminated at the St Cajetan church where various speakers lambasted the powers that be for granting licences to the structure in violation of all rules and regulations.
Addressing the massive gathering, Adv Radharao Gracias said that this issue is a political one and should be handled politically.
“The solution to the issue does not lie in approaching the courts and it should be done politically. Recently, we saw how the farmers won the battle by forcing the Centre to repeal the laws as the government was afraid of consequences in the elections,” Gracias opined.
“Similarly, we should also be ready for a long drawn battle. If not for a year, we should agitate for at least a month to force the government to demolish the structure. Also, we should get united and vote for one political party so that the BJP is thrown out of power,” he appealed.
“Stand up together, fight together. Take the example of farmers from North India. They fought for over a year but we need to fight only for a month and also be ready to get beaten. And the victory will be ours,” Gracias stated.
Architect Dean D’Cruz said that the huge gathering reminded him of the agitation against the Regional Plan which was won by the people.
“Similarly, the people can themselves win this battle and the best way to do that will be at the ballot as the elections are coming up,” D’Cruz informed and called the structure a complete fraud.
D’Cruz also appealed to the people to voice their opposition to conversion of forests, water bodies and fields under section 16B of TCP.
“Also under ODP, huge orchard lands have been converted at the stroke of a brush. This is corruption and we have to stand up against corruption,” he added.
Stating that what did not happen in 60 years is happening now, activist Shankar Polgi came down on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who he said is not supporting Goans.
“We should not allow such CM to continue,” Polgi appealed while also stating that all 40 MLAs should not be re-elected as they failed to safeguard the interests of Goans.
“Why have we to come on the streets to safeguard the heritage in Old Goa when the local MLA and North Goa MP are residing hardly a few hundred metres from the site? Are they not bothered?” he posed.
Historian Prof Prajal Sakhardande expressed fear that the seven monuments in Old Goa could lose their world heritage status if UNESCO gets the wind of such illegalities within heritage precincts.
“Under UNESCO guidelines, if within 1 km of the buffer zone any illegality is observed then the heritage tag could be removed,” Sakhardande stated while urging the gathering to carry on the movement till the structure is razed to the ground.
Lawyer Andrea Mascarenhas painted a grim picture of the legal battle they are fighting which has not yielded positive results.
“Therefore it is important to fight the government politically now as nothing happens in the courts. If this structure is not demolished before elections, we should not vote for BJP. We have to tell them we don’t need them,” she added.
Tiatrist Seby de Divar proved a hit among the audience as he sang a song on the issue, criticizing the government and the officials for conniving in granting licences to the structure.
Aruna Wagh coordinated the meeting while architect Tahir Noronha and Felizidad administered the pledge in English and Konkani respectively.
