Dharna to be held at St Cruz MLA’s residence first, late likely to shift to Bambolim and Azad Maidan
OLD GOA
Feeling that they have been taken for a ride for over three months, the affected GMC kiosk owners who have not been rehabilitated as yet have decided to hold agitation from Monday.
And to start the agitation, they will hold a dharna for a couple of hours in front of St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes’ residence from 9.30 am.
On July 1, dozens of kiosks and structures were demolished outside the GMC complex and despite several meetings at various levels, including with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the issue has not been fully resolved.
Speaking to the reporters outside the MLA’s residence on Saturday, a kiosk owner Domnic Pereira said, “We held a meeting yesterday in which we have decided that enough is enough. We have been patient for long and now it’s time to agitate.”
“To start with, we are going to hold dharna in front of St Cruz MLA’s residence as the Assembly is scheduled on Monday. We are going to tell our MLA to raise the issue in the House as we have elected him to take up our issues,” Pereira added.
“It will be a peaceful agitation without troubling anybody. And it will not be against anyone but it will be a fight for ourselves,” he said.
“The agitation then could be shifted to GMC Bambolim or to the Azad Maidan, depending on the permissions received from the authorities concerned,” Pereira stated.
When questioned on the duration of the agitation, Pereira informed that the agitation will continue till they receive concrete assurance from the government on their rehabilitation.
Replying to another question whether all the affected kiosk owners and fruit vendors will participate, Pereira said, “All the affected vendors are going to participate. Even the fruit vendors have assured that they are going to participate. But since they are doing business, we are not going to put pressure on them to participate.”
“The Chief Minister is stating that rehabilitation is going to be done in eight days but in reality it does not happen. We do not know whether there is miscommunication or something as we do not have direct contact with the Chief Minister. When we contacted the MLA, he says that the CM is busy,” Pereira stated.
