PANAJI
The confrontation between the Goa government and protesters from Siridao-Pale escalated on Wednesday, with St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar rejecting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s offer to keep in abeyance permissions granted under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act.
Sawant, after a late-night meeting with TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and the Chief Town Planner on Tuesday, had announced that all permissions for zone changes in the St Andre constituency would be suspended.
He said a letter had been drafted to formalise the move.
“This is the first step within the legal framework. I appeal to MLA Borkar to call off his hunger strike. Revocation is a detailed legal process and will take a few days. His health is important, and we are concerned,” Sawant had told reporters.
He also alleged that “some individuals are advising him (Borkar) for political gain.”
Borkar, however, dismissed the announcement.
“Without a concrete assurance, I will continue my fast,” he said.
He insisted that the issue was not limited to one constituency but affected the entire State.
“We will not settle for temporary relief. Section 39A must go.”
On Wednesday, Borkar’s indefinite fast entered its fifth day. He has refused food and water since the protest began at Azad Maidan, raising concerns about his health.
Earlier in the day, he also attended the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Assembly, where he raised the issue before returning to the protest site.
Opposition parties have thrown their weight behind him.
AAP’s Venzy Viegas met Borkar in the evening to check on his condition and discuss strategy.
Viegas said, an appointment with the Governor has been sought for Thursday to demand a special one-day Assembly session to repeal the controversial section.
Goa Forward Party chief and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, also met Borkar and later told the media that the cabinet can take a decision to repeal the section.
“Just as Section 16B was repealed, the Cabinet can approve an amendment and strike down 39A. The Chief Minister’s assurance is not enough,” Sardesai said.
A delegation of Opposition MLAs and party leaders meanwhile is scheduled to meet Governor Pusapati A G Raju on Thursday to press for the special session.
With just eight days left for the Assembly session, the standoff has sharpened. Sawant insists the government is taking steps within the law. Borkar remains adamant: “Unless there is a firm assurance, my fast will continue.”
