Activists Ajay Prabhgaonkar, Swapnesh Sherlekar and several residents travelled to the national capital after earlier announcing that the agitation would be escalated to both Panaji and New Delhi if there was no response from the Goa government by the 100th day.
Addressing supporters, Prabhgaonkar said the protest had reached a crucial stage. "We had decided that if our demands were not met by the 100th day, we would hold demonstrations in Panaji and Delhi. Today, we have reached Jantar Mantar, where a site has been allotted to us. We once again appeal to the government to protect Goa and Goan identity and respond to the concerns of people who have been protesting for the last 100 days," he said.
Claiming the government had failed to engage with the protesters, Prabhgaonkar added that the continued silence had left villagers with no option but to take their protest to the national capital. "There has been no dialogue and no indication that our demands will be accepted. We have come to Delhi to register our protest against this approach," he said.
Sherlekar appealed to Goans to stand in solidarity with the movement. "We have reached Delhi on the 100th day of the protest. We urge all Goans to join us and participate in discussions on how this battle should be taken forward," he said.
The protesters reiterated their opposition to the 5.74 lakh square metre housing project proposed by the House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), alleging it was being imposed on villagers and would adversely affect their land and livelihoods.
Appealing for wider public support, the villagers drew a parallel with the nationwide symbolic gestures during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Just as people responded to the call to beat bells and plates during COVID-19, we appeal to Goans to unite and symbolically drive out this illegal project," a protester said.
The villagers also alleged that repeated representations to MLAs and the Chief Minister had yielded no response.
"Even after 100 days, we have not received justice. Our concerns have been ignored at every step, which is why we have brought our agitation to Delhi. We will continue this movement until the proposed Abhinandan Lodha project is stopped," they said.
The protest also received support from the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, with Working President Sunil Kawthankar joining the demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. Extending support on behalf of the Congress party and South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Kawthankar reiterated the party's opposition to projects that do not have the consent of local communities.
"The people protesting today at Jantar Mantar have the complete support of the Congress party and Captain Viriato. The Congress party has always maintained that any project or law that the people of Goa and its villages do not want should be withdrawn," he said.
Criticising the BJP governments at the Centre and in Goa, Kawthankar said villagers had been forced to travel to Delhi to protect their land, livelihoods and identity.
Referring to the proposed HoABL development, he alleged that a project of nearly 5 lakh square metres required a public hearing and environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification.
"We demand that the Central Government and the Prime Minister immediately withdraw this project. Such a large development requires environmental clearance and a public hearing. We also question how the necessary approvals were granted," he said.
Kawthankar further warned that public resentment over the issue could have political consequences. "Goa was where the BJP's success story began in 2014. If the government continues to ignore the voice of the people, this movement could mark the beginning of the BJP's decline not only in Goa but across the country," he said.
The protesters maintained that the agitation would continue in the coming days, warning of further escalation unless the government initiates dialogue and addresses their demands.
