MARGAO
The 54th Opinion Poll Day celebrations at the historic Lohia Maida on Saturday saw NGOs, activists, people in general and the politicians sounding the bugle against the controversial linear projects as they pledged to protect Goa, its people and the environment from destruction.
Speakers who assembled under the banner of Goenkar “ Ek Pavl Ekcharanchem vowed to intensify the ongoing against the coal and track doubling projects till they are scrapped.
Speakers called for unity amongst the agitating public a la Melauli stir to take the ongoing agitation against coal, track doubling and the power transmission projects to the logical conclusion.
While the activists vowed not to rest till the government scrap these controversial projects, the politicians, including Leader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai, Curtorim
MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and Sanguem Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar called for opposition unity to send the BJP government packing home. Nationalist Congress party Chief Minister Jose Philip D’Souza also lent his party’s full support to the ongoing agitation against the linear projects.
The impressive meeting began with the organizers paying homage to the two prominent faces of the Opinion Poll movement, Dr Jack de Sequeira and Shabu Desai by lighting of a mashal (torch) at the hands of Sequeira’s grandson Ajit Sukhija and granddaughter Paula Sequeira Pinto and Shabu Desai’s son Vishal.
Reminding that late Shabu Desai had taken the mashal to every corner of the state against the merger, speakers vowed to carry the torch to every village to bring about awareness against the projects.
At an impressive meeting at the Lohia Maidan called by several NGOs, youngsters from Canacona staged a skit centered on the protection of environment, while the traditional Dol and Tash, besides the brass band and individual songs by Sigmund De Souza and others helped raised the tempo at the meeting.
Goencho Ekvott convenor Creson Antao gave a call to the people to stand up and fight till the three linear projects are scrapped, while Shankar Pongi said if Melauli villagers could bring the government on its knees, a sustained agitation against the linear projects could force the government to scrap the coal and other projects. “Let us show our unity at Mormugao, where the coal is being handled day in and out posing health hazard to the people”, he said.
Activist Freddy Travasso said while Filipe Neri Rodrigues had stopped work on the track doubling in November, the railways have resumed the work, while seeking support of the people of Goa to stop the project.
In his address, Olencio Simoes said there is no doubt that the Adanis and Jindals are out to make Goa a coal hub, by destroying all the traditional occupations. He made a fervent plea to the students as well as the religious leaders and the people in general to unite and support the ongoing agitation.
Saying that the time has come for the Legislators to do their job on the floor of the House in the ensuing session, Fr Bolmax Pereira gave a call to the people of Goa to protect the state from further destruction. Shubam Shirodkar from Melauli said the villagers will not rest till the land in question in the village comes in the name of the villagers. “For nine months, our villagers unitedly faced the government. Our agitation will continue till the land comes in the name of the villagers”, he asserted.
Dr Jorson Fernandes warned that heavy metals in the coal dust particulates are toxic and could lead to serious ailments. Goencho Evkott co-convenor Capt. Virato Fernandes said there’s a conspiracy behind the defections by the Congress and MGP MLAs into the BJP, saying most of the MLAs who embraced the ruling party hail from areas, where infrastructure is being laid for coal transportation.
He urged the MLAs to take up the issues on the floor of the House, promising that the people of Goa will fight the battle on the streets.
Adv Surel Tilve urged the people to take a cue from the Melauli villagers, whose agitating against the IIT project bore fruit after nine months.
Zarina da Cunha, Swapnesh, Vikas Bhagat, Jarret D’Silva and others also spoke at the meeting.
