MARGAO
Undeterred by the South Goa district Magistrate’s late Saturday order rejecting the permission for the anti-Jetty Policy 2022 South-North rally, a group of anti-Jetty policy 2022 protestors from down South took out a rally on Sunday noon to head to the Azad Maidan, Panjim as per schedule.
The rally, which started from the coastal village of Cavelossim, wound its way to the villages before entering the National Highway 66 at Chinchinim, heading to Borim bridge and later moved towards Panjim.
Though one could not find anti-Jetty policy banners and flags on the vehicles, an open jeep which was leading the rally had a tricolour, besides activists led by Abhijit Prabhudesai.
Speaking to The Goan along the way, Abhijit said the Collector’s order is wrong per se since the rally planned by the anti-Jetty policy protestors was peaceful in nature. “We are in no way violating any law in force. Our rally is peaceful and perfectly in order. We are not violating any rule or law by taking out the rally”, he said.
He pointed out that the government has deployed its police machinery to stop the rally from proceeding to the Azad Maidan, Panjim, but in vain.
“Such tactics will not succeed, more so when we are fighting to save our Goa from destruction and for posterity. They may use the police machinery to brow beat the protestors, but we are all going ahead with the rally”, he thundered.
Saying that the anti-jetty protestors are only carrying out an awareness programme amongst the people of Goa, and caution them over the diabolic plan of the government in bringing the Jetty policy, Abhijit asserted there is no doubt that the people will finally win the battle.
With confusion prevailing amongst the participants over the fate of the rally in view of the district Magistrate Jyoti Kumari’s order on late Saturday rejecting the permission for the South-North rally planned against the Jetty policy, sources said many of the protestors headed to Panjim in vehicles without banners and flags.
Sources pointed out that many vehicles from down South headed straight to Panjim without joining the rally to ensure that even if the police do stop the rally at Borim bridge, at least some of the protestors will reach Azad Maidan Panjim by Sunday evening. “We fail to understand how the district magistrate has rejected the permission for the rally when the protestors can still go to Panjim like any other traveler, minus the banners and flags”, sources wondered.
District Magistrate Jyoti Kumari had on Saturday evening conveyed her decision to social activist, Xavier Fernandes, representing the Rainbow Warriors, rejecting the permission sought for the rally, saying the rally will result in traffic congestion and law and order.
