While public agitations have historically been led by South Goa’s Catholic community, the larger Hindu peasantry, particularly women aligned with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and now the BJP, must awaken to the realities of present governance. Take the case of Mopa Airport, where land was acquired from poor farmers at throwaway prices, only to be handed over to cronies for profit. In Sanguem, displaced families still await fair compensation years after their lands were taken. Across Goa, scarce land is appropriated under the guise of “development projects” that rarely materialize, later sold to private interests at inflated rates. The Bahujan Samaj, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Castes of North Goa must raise their voices. Equally pressing is the Special Status issue, once promised by the Prime Minister during Parrikar’s tenure. Instead of safeguarding Goa’s fragile land and culture, the floodgates have been opened to rampant acquisition by builders, aided by the complicity of the present dispensation. It is time for the people to unite in demanding accountability, fair compensation, and protection of our scarce land resources. Only then can we preserve the unique identity of Goa for generations to come.
