Not a day passes by without protests and agitations across the country ever since the BJP came to power in 2014.
Notwithstanding the ongoing farmers agitation in the national capital for repeal of the contentious farm laws which has led to the Supreme Court's intervention and the farmers unions rejecting the SC empowered committee, back home there have been protests galore against the proposed Shel-Melalui IIT project by the villagers who claim that the government is trying to usurp their land and deprive them of their livelihood.
Their campaign was bolstered by the surrounding villages who trooped in large numbers by extending their unstinted support to the contentious project.
Gory scenes of police atrocities were witnessed on the peaceful protesters which went viral on social media and TV channels exposing the inefficiency of the ruling saffron party in controlling the volatile situation. Police Inspector Sagar Ekoskar jaywalking on the chests of women was nauseating to say the least which was reminiscent of the dark days of fascist Germany.
The irony of the protest was filing FIRs against activists and protesters and letting go scotfree the law-breaker cops. The adamancy of the CM was at its height by affirming that the IIT campus will not be shifted until the Home Minister and local MLA of Valpoi softened his stance in deference to the wishes of the residents by promising to scrap the controversial project but this assurance did not go down well with the protesters who insisted that the land be allocated to the rightful owners, FIRs withdrawn and stringent action against the errant Police Inspector for committing excesses on the womenfolk.
The bottom line in both the protests is lack of trust deficit on the dictatorial BJP rule.
EVERETTE ASSIS TELLES, Comba
