MARGAO
The Gen Z took the centre stage at the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao at Sunday’s anti-coal rally as they gave a wakeup call to the youth to arise and take the anti-coal agitation to the logical conclusion.
Politicians, including MLAs, leaders of political parties, besides social activists and citizens took a back seat in the audience as they listened with rapt attention to the young brigade as they made their voice heard loud and clear.
The young brigade set the stage for the crucial meeting as members of the Babani yuva Sangh, Margao beat the traditional doll tash after invoking the Lord Damodar, Margao’s Presiding deity. This was followed by a group of youngsters attired in black costumes as they took the stage to sing a specially composed song against coal on the ill-effects of coal.
In his spirited address, Vrushant Gaonkar thundered at the Lohia Maidan that the people of Goa, including the youth have the right to object and speak against coal. He made an impassioned plea to the youth of Goa to wake up and brace to join the anti-coal agitation. “If the youth does not come forward to stop coal, one would not be able to save Goa. We are the future of Goa. Let us all step and fight, otherwise there will be no Goa left”, Gaonkar said.
Warning that the silence of the people will cost dearly the future generation, Gaonkar called upon the people to join hands to unitedly oppose coal a la Goa’s liberation movement.
Alisha Pereira, the secretary of Chicalim Farmers Club echoed similar sentiment saying the future generation will question the present generation why they did not fight to stop Goa from being converted into a coal hub. “Goa is being turned into a transit hub. Coal transportation leaves behind a trail of destruction, silently killing the people. What the government is promoting is not development but destruction of the state”, she said.
Sounding a bugle that the younger generation will be remain a silent spectator to plans to convert Goa into a coal hub, she said that coal cannot be the future of Goan youth.
Mahesh Kunkolkar from Chimbel charged the government for pushing all ill-conceived projects against the wishes of the people of Goa. “The government in power does not consult the people before bringing in the project. The MPT is a natural port gifted by nature to the people of Goa. The port is not the father’s property of any political party or government. The government should listen to the voice of the people”, he added.
