Panaji: Former Allahabad high court chief justice Ferdino Rebello launched a blistering attack on the Goa government at an online meeting of the Enough is Enough movement, accusing it of surrendering the state's land, rivers, and villages to a rapacious real estate lobby. The movement held the meeting online after the Corporation of the City of Panaji rejected permission for a public meeting at Azad Maidan.
Rebello's Sharp Criticism
"Govt did not want this meeting to happen because it is scared," Rebello said, dismissing the denial of permission for a public gathering at Azad Maidan as a pretext. He reserved his sharpest words for what he called a three-year assault on Goa's planning laws. "Govt has brought in rules that permit the real estate lobby to buy and destroy Goan land," he said. "The ministers have greed... money, money, and money. Permissions have been given on quid pro quo."
Corruption in Land Deals
He named the Karapur case as a textbook example of how developers corrupt governments. Rebello made a direct promise to Goans, saying that the movement "will see that the bureaucrats and corrupt TCP members are prosecuted." "This is my promise to Goa," he said.
Infrastructure Concerns
On infrastructure, he was blunt when he said floor area ratios in villages have been raised without any carrying capacity study, with authorities ignoring aspects such as adequate water, electricity, or sewerage coverage. "Are we going to be passive spectators to the destruction of our villages, our rivers, our hills?" he asked.
Call for Unity
Calling on religious leaders, youth, political parties, and ordinary citizens to unite across party lines, Rebello urged that all criminal cases against activists and villagers be withdrawn. "There may be political differences, but we need to come together for the love of Goa. This movement will not stop till we achieve our objectives," he said.
Future Plans
Rebello said that a public meeting will be held at Azad Maidan after the monsoon. "Permission or no permission, we will come together. We will not step back." He also challenged the government's casino policy. "No other state has casinos in its rivers. According to govt's own cabinet decision, they had to be moved out. Why are they still in the Mandovi?"
