PERNEM
'Maad Yatra', a protest rally against government's decision to classify coconut tree as grass, was launched from Dhargal on Sunday.
“Pernem was in the forefront during Portuguese rule to light the flame of Satyagraha. The flame of change 'Parivartan' in the form of 'Maad Yatra' has also started in Pernem taluka. Let us teach a lesson to the government which has declassified coconut tree,” speakers urged the public at a well-attended meeting at Pernem.
The 'Maad Yatra', started from two pillars at Dhargal where a large number of two and four-wheelers took part in the rally along with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte. Former minister Babu Azgaonkar, former MLA Parsuram Kotkar, ZP member Tukaram Harmalkar, Goa Forward President Prabhakar Timble, Pandurang Parab, Jeet Arolkar, Pernem Swabhiman organisation president Devendra Prabhudesai were also present among others.
The rally after reaching Pernem via Virnoda culminated in a public meeting at Shri Bhagwati Temple in Pernem.
Speaking at the public meeting, MLA Vijai Sardesai criticised Environment and Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar for the decision on coconut tree. “Time has come to send Arlekar home,” he said.
“Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar challenged me to organise the rally in Pernem and today I have done it. If the chief minister has guts, he should now come forward for a public debate on the issue", Sardesai stated.
He further said, “when former MLA Jeetendra Deshprabhu was trying to bring Japanese golf course in Pernem, Parsekar was in the forefront to oppose it and now he himself is in the forefront to promote the golf course at Tiracol”.
Speaking at the meeting, MLA Khaunte alleged that no one asked the government for a change in tree protection law. It was done to help the builders.
Ex-minister Babu Azgaonkar said, “Manohar Parrikar had assured to give 500 jobs per year to locals from Pernem. Where are these jobs, he asked.
Former MLA Parsuram Kotkar, Prabhakar Timble, Durgadas Kamat, Prashant Naik, Pandurang Parab and Rajmohan Shetye also spoke at the meeting.
Prashant Naik invoked the blessing of the deity to teach BJP government a lesson. After the public meeting, some agitators went to Patradevi to pay homage to the martyrs.
