MARGAO
Questioning the haste with which the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is going ahead with the work on the proposed kabrastan at Sonsodo, a group of citizens on Sunday assembled near the site and opposed the work if it is being carried out without complying with the mandatory provisions of law.
The citizens along with the heirs of the original owner of the land which was acquired by the Margao Municipal Council in 2011 told the media that they will call on various authorities, including the district collector, the Margao Municipal Council and demand a stop to the proposed development of the burial site.
President of Amchem Goem, Amcho Lok, Felix Dias told the media how the MMC can announce that work on the Kabrastan will be resumed at the site by next week. Saying that Goans are good and peace loving people, Felix, however, warned not to test the patience of the people.
“We condemn the statement made by a group provoking members of the Muslim community to take the law in their hands to complete the work. We will not sit quite and watch some one taking the law and order in their hands,” Felix said.
He demanded that the MMC should refrain from carrying out any kind of development work at the site against the mandatory provision of law.
Members of the Aninha family, who were also present at the site, lamented that the family
has been forgotten by the government and those who have acquired the land.
“The government and former Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat had promised to compensate our family with alternate land admeasuring 8000 square meters in lieu of acquiring our ancestral land admeasuring 16,000 sq mts. Till date, we have been left high and dry”, Marcelino Fernandes said, while demanding that the authorities compensate his family before undertaking work on the Kabrastan.
Former Raia Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes said he failed to understand why the authorities are rushing with the kabrastan just before the coming Assembly election.
“I symapathise with the Muslim community, which has been only used for political gains on the eve of every election,” Xavier said.
