OLD GOA
Goemkars Against Marina (GAM) has issued an apology for utterances made against activists at the Nauxim marina meet on October 24.
GAM convenor Adv Suresh Palkar said that at the meet, RGP President Manoj Parab made statements against the activists and warned them that they won’t be allowed to share RGP stage if they make utterances against the party. At the meet, Parab had also advised the activists to come with supporters for the meetings and not just give speeches.
Speaking to reporters, Adv Palkar informed that after the utterances by Parab, they started receiving many calls from activists, NGOs and political parties, voicing their concern over such utterances, which they said was an insult.
"We had invited activists, NGOs and political parties for the meet as it was held under Borkar's leadership and not under RGP. So, today we have decided to tender apology to the activists, NGOs and political parties who felt offended by Parab’s utterances,” Adv Palkar stated while stating that the meeting was held under the leadership of St Andre MLA and not by RGP as Parab is trying to portray.
“GAM had also shared the stage as the meeting was held by MLA Borkar. If the meeting was held under the banner of RGP, we would never have shared the stage,” Palkar stated.
“MLA Borkar may have been elected on RGP but now he is the MLA of St Andre constituency and entire Goa. So, one cannot make a statement that the MLA cannot be termed separate from the RGP,” Palkar added.
When questioned by The Goan whether GAM would continue its support to MLA Borkar fully knowing that such instances could be repeated, Adv Palkar said that in the future if there is any attempt made to belittle the activists, NGOs and politicians, then they would interfere at the meeting itself. “This being the first instance we were caught unawares,” Adv Palkar added while stating that such utterances could lead to a divide in the movement.
Palkar further said that Parab could be right that some activists are targeting RGP as B-team of BJP, but he should not address that issue at meetings on marina project.
On the mobilisation of support for the anti-marina agitation by GAM, Prof Ramrao Wagh said that they are in touch with all those who were involved in the previous agitations. “We are also meeting the affected people from the other side of the Zuari bay, including leaders from Cortalim, Sancoale, Vasco to garner their support in the agitation,” Wagh said.
Main focus should be on getting marina scrapped: MLA Borkar
Stating that he wants to keep himself away from the controversy surrounding the Nauxim marina meet organised under his leadership, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said that the focus should, instead, be on getting the marina scrapped.
“Everybody involved, including Goemkars Against Marina (GAM), are working towards getting the marina project scrapped and that should be the main focus,” Borkar informed. “Nobody should focus on a political party as then it would create controversy and hurt the movement against marina,” the MLA stated.
Further, Borkar said he has approached the MLAs of St Cruz and Taleigao and have not seen them as belonging to a particular party as their areas are also getting affected by the marina. “I can’t get involved in such issues and my sole aim is to get the marina project scrapped,” Borkar said.
Curca panchayat to hold gram sabha in Nauxim on Nov 19
Bowing down to the demands of the Nauxim locals and others that the gram sabha should be held in Nauxim in the wake of the agitation against the marina project, the Curca panchayat has decided to hold the Gram Sabha in Nauxim on November 19.
The Gram Sabha was slated to be held on November 5 at Government Primary School, Gawali-Moula. However, after demands by MLA Viresh Borkar, Nauxim panch Deepali Kankonkar and leaders of Goemkars Against Marina, the panchayat has issued a fresh notice stating that the gram sabha will be held on November 19 in Nauxim near the Ganesh Visarjan shed.
