MAPUSA
Blaming the BJP-led government for deleting their names from the occupant’s column, Mapusa farmers have decided to intensify their protest and soon meet and question the councillors of Mapusa Municipal Council.
The farmers have also stressed the need to keep individual differences aside and join forces to fight the injustice done to the community.
“All BJP MLAs are responsible for deletion of names of the tenants from the register. Not a single MLA in Bardez has come to our support and questioned why our names have been excluded. It’s clear that the politicians are not concerned about the farmers,” said Sanjay Barde, President of Shree Bodgeshwar Shetkari Sangh, Mapusa.
Several farmers had assembled at the Shree Bodgeshwar temple hall to condemn the actions of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority to delete the names of tenants (farmers) from the occupant’s column in the land register.
Barde informed that over 1,500 names of farmers who have been cultivating the fields as tenants for several years have been deleted by the NGPDA.
He said the government which was against the Bahujan samaj, worked stealthily to push its agenda and ignoring the travails of the aam aadmi.
“Each one of us will have to come together and fight for our rights. We should keep our individual differences aside and work for the greater good,” he said.
The General Secretary of Tenants Association of Camarcasanacho Bundh, John Lobo said the present government was against the poor but helped the builders and the rich.
“The government should have accepted its mistake and rectified the same. Now, we have no way out but to join hands and collectively drive some sense in the leaders,” said Lobo who is also a farmer from Camarkhazan.
Several farmers also spoke and condemned the government for failing to protect the interest of the farmers.
“Our ancestors eked a living by tilling these fields and growing paddy in the past. We have been tenants in these fields for generations. Now, the government wants to throw us out,” said Anil Kerkar, a farmer from Morod.
North Goa District Congress, President, Vijay Bhike promised to support the farmers’ cause.
“Whenever there is injustice happening, Congress will support you. This government has taken advantage of Covid-19 to push their favourite projects,” Bhike said.
He said the farmers will have to come out and protest more aggressively to make their voice heard.
