OLD GOA
The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has decided to extend the fast satyagraha into the New Year as its members said they are not satisfied with the progress made in the demolition process of the structure.
The SOGAC has also decided to take the agitation to all 40 constituencies in an attempt to impact the results in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Speaking at a media conference on Friday, SOGAC coordinator Peter Viegas said, “When we started the satyagraha we had two demands, mainly demolition of the structure and demarcation of heritage zones in Regional Plan. However, it’s been 38 days now and we have not seen any concrete action on either front.”
“Therefore, we have decided to continue with the fast satyagraha till the time that the structure is demolished,” Viegas added.
Explaining further, Old Goa local and SOGAC member Glen Cabral informed that this is not the only structure that has been granted a license by TCP.
“Already, TCP has given one more license for the structure to conduct exhibitions, in which a son of a central politician is involved,” Cabral stated and added that many more structures are in the pipeline.
“If there is no action on this structure, then there are many more in the pipeline. This structure is only the tip of the iceberg,” he opined and demanded the demolition of the structure so that it serves as an example for other projects.
Activist Anthony D’Silva said apart from continuing the fast satyagraha, the agitation would be taken at the village and constituency levels so that it has an impact on the upcoming Assembly elections.
“Already, we have concluded the awareness on the issue in which people from all 40 constituencies were involved. Now, we will go to all 40 constituencies and take the issue to the people who did not attend, so that it has an impact in the elections,” Viegas said and urged the government to make amends by demolishing the structure.
“If the government wants, they can get the structure demolished easily. Since their people are involved, they can compensate them and get the structure demolished,” he said.
General secretary of GAKUVED Rupesh Velip, Goa Muslim Forum president Iftikhar Shaikh, treasurer Ali Shaikh, activist Azim Shaikh, SOGAC president Fatima Pereira, treasurer Hugo Gonsalves and others were present.
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Not satisfied with VP action: SOGAC
OLD GOA:
Even as the Se Old Goa panchayat has initiated the process of demolition against the controversial structure, the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has stated that they are not satisfied with the action.
When pointed by The Goan that the panchayat has already initiated the demolition process, which included revocation of licences, SOGAC member Glen Cabral said the action is not satisfactory as it is time-consuming.
“If panchayat authorities wanted, they could have taken speedy action. The way they are biding time, it appears that they are waiting for the code of conduct to come into force so that they can then say that they cannot act due to the code of conduct,” Cabral alleged.
He further pointed out that the original owners have already complained that their signatures have been forged to avail licenses.
“That is the best ground to get the structure demolished,” he pointed and appealed to authorities to work in that direction.
