MARGAO: Politicians tread a cautious path as the contentious issue of kabrastan at Sonsodo threatens to boil into a major controversy, with opposition for burial ground for the Muslim community refusing to die down in the areas of Borda-Agalli in Fatorda and neighbouring Raia village.
The row is fast turning into a Niz Goemkar versus non-Goans issue and if one goes by the tone and tenor of the Sunday meeting, all eyes are now focused on the coalition government in general and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai in p
The government will have to keep in mind the sentiments of the local populace and the need for decent burial grounds for the dead.
Vijai Sardesai, in particular, has a task cut out for him as he would have to do a fine balancing act between the demands of his core constituents, including the traditional Scheduled Tribe community from the areas of Agalli-Borda and the migrant Muslim community.
Sources said that given that he now heads the regional outfit, Goa Forward Party, with an ambitious agenda to expand its base across the state, the TCP Minister may have not rushed with a decision to scrap the kabrastan, ostensibly not to antagonise the Muslim community, whose presence is now felt in almost all the Assembly constituencies.
At the same time, his close aides are wary of the fact that any decision contrary to the sentiments of the local populace may further alienate him from his core voter group, especially against the backdrop of his "unpopular" move to support the BJP-led coalition government after the Assembly election.
Questions are being raised in Fatorda's political circles how the TCP Minister will handle the row, with even his close aides, including a couple of councilors, having begun to feel the heat from the anti-Kabrastan camp.
Vijai Sardesai's announcement that the government will rescind the MoU between the Margao municipality and the Jamia Masjid, wherein the acquired land will again vest with the civic body, had no takers, with the local populace demanding nothing short of scrapping the Kabrastan project.
Says the TCP Minister: "The government has initiated a consultative process to seek the views and opinions of the various stakeholders before arriving at a solution. Nothing has been decided yet. It is government's duty and responsibility to make available space for the dead. At the same time, the government will take the sentiments of the local populace into account," he said.
His Margao counterpart, Congress MLA Digambar Kamat, said the government should handle the issue properly by taking all the people into confidence. "I had attended one of the meetings with the agitating people. All I can say is that the issue needs a cautious approach as it has showed signs of going out of control," Kamat said.
Land admeasuring around 30,000 square metres was acquired by the MMC when Kamat was the Chief Minister. At that time, the then government had given its nod for an MoU between the MMC and the Jamia Masjid, wherein the acquired land was handed over to the Muslim body for maintenance. "I have nothing to say if the present government has plans to rescind the MoU. The MoU was signed keeping in mind that the Muslim community may have certain religious requirements at the kabrastan and the body is in a better position to handle any issues," Kamat added.
Incidentally, MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai said the civic body will wait for the government to take a call on the sensitive issue. "Yes, the civic body might have acquired the land at Sonsodo, but I am certain the land was acquired as per the government's decision. Let the government come out with an amicable solution," she added.
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QUOTE ROOM
It is the government's duty to provide burial grounds for all communities. But at the same time, it will take cognizance of the sentiments of those opposing
- Vijai Sardesai
I have been told that the government intends to scrap the MoU which was inked specifically as the Muslim body was in a better position to look after the maintenance
- Digmabar Kamat
This is a sensitive issue. It is for the government to take a call after taking the stakeholders into confidence
- Babita Prabhudesai
