Goa Forward, ex-PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar and party leaders rally behind villagers, demand immediate withdrawal of cases
The four Mirabag protesters welcomed at the Goa Forward Party headquarters, Fatorda on Saturday with flower garlands by party chief Vijai Sardesai and former Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar.
MARGAO
Moments after their release by the Porvorim police, the four Mirabag protesters maintained they have committed no crime in showing placards in the Assembly against the controversial bandhara project, but have only highlighted their two-year long struggle after their pleas to scrap the project fell on deaf ears.
The four protesters were welcomed at the Goemkar Ghor, the Goa Forward Party headquarters with flower garlands by party chief Vijai Sardesai in the presence of party leaders and former Sanvordem MLA and former PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar.
Appa Naik told the media that the protesters had gone to the Assembly to highlight their burning issue before the elected representatives. “Recently when the protesters had gone to the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had appealed to the people not to go to the residence of Ministers, but highlight their issues at the right forum. What wrong did we commit by showing placards in the House of the people,” he wondered.
He explained that the villagers had filed RTIs, met Ministers and the Chief Minister, and repeatedly informed them about how the project would affect their sacred places, temples, and livelihoods. They even approached the technical engineers to explain the ground realities.
Youth activist Upendra Naik clarified that going to the Assembly was their last resort to grab attention of the government, and they have done nothing violent or wrong. Naik vowed that the protest will continue until the project is completely scrapped, noting that past assurances from Ministers, including one given inside a temple, by Subhash Shirodkar were broken. He demanded a written guarantee this time.
GFP President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai condemned the government for its oppressive response, stating that it has revealed its true colours. He observed that for over 27 days, the government remained unresponsive, forcing the protesters to hold a banner demanding justice just to draw attention. Sardesai accused the Chief Minister of overstepping by taking on the role of the Speaker and ordering the protesters to be thrown out. He described this as a sign of oppressive rule, a government that refuses to listen to its people.
GFP General Secretary, Goa Forward Party, Mohandas Lolienkar, stated that the step taken by the protesters was a direct outcome of the government turning a deaf ear to their legitimate demands. He asserted that their action was a reaction to the complete lack of response from the authorities. Lolienkar emphasised that instead of addressing the concerns of the people, the Chief Minister chose to hand them over to the police, despite them being peaceful citizens and not criminals. He clarified that the protest was not a set-up but a genuine movement by the people themselves. Lolienkar applauded their courage and noted that GFP President Vijai Sardesai has also appreciated their bravery.
Former MLA, Sanvordem, Deepak Pauskar, criticised the government’s vindictive approach toward the protesters. He recalled that when the activists took their issue to the Assembly, Vijai Sardesai immediately visited the protest site and understood the situation. Pauskar demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases slapped on the protesters, asserting that they did nothing wrong and destroyed nothing.
The Goa Forward Party demands the immediate withdrawal of these cases filed against the protesters and a written assurance from the government scrapping the Mirabag bandhara project once and for all.
