MAPUSA
Censuring the BJP-led government in the State for detaining protesting farmers in Pernem, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Friday said instead of acting in a high-handed manner, the government should take the locals into confidence before acquiring land for the link road to the Mopa airport.
The GFP said the government was trying to forcibly grab land from the farmers when the villagers were not ready to part away with their precious possession.
“We will always remain with the farmers. With the help of the local villagers, we will start an agitation in Pernem. We will hold meetings in other adjoining villages. We will ensure the government retraces its steps just like it had to bite the dust in Melaulim,” said Kiran Kandolkar, Working President of GFP.
The GFP working president was speaking to the media outside the Mapusa Police Station on Friday noon.
Several leaders of GFP and MGP rushed to Mapusa after getting information that the protesting Pernem farmers were detained and brought to Mapusa Police Station.
Around 66 protesting farmers, the majority of whom were women, were brought in two police buses and detained at the Mapusa Police Station.
The farmers were lifted from the Mopa site where they had gathered in protest objecting to the demarcation/survey of the land to be acquired for the link road to the Mopa airport project.
All the farmers were arrested late in the evening and later released on bail bond by the deputy collector.
Kandolkar said the defiant BJP-led government has ignored the cries of the farmers and wrongfully detaining them.
“While the Prime Minister of the country is saying that the farmers should be “atmanirbar”, the State government is snatching the land from the farmers to construct highways,” he said.
GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat said the government has only eight more months and should refrain from running roughshod on the people.
“The government is trying to snatch the land from the farmers when they are not ready to part away with their land,” Kamat said.
MGP President Deepak Dhavlikar said if people are opposing the road then the government should stop the land acquisition process.
“I request the CM to first talk to the locals, take them into confidence and then take the next step. The government should find a solution amicably and not resort to dadagiri,” Dhavlikar said.
He said the government has started the land acquisition process without intimating the people.
“The government should learn from its experience in Melauli. When people come together then nothing works,” he said.
