Goa Land Conversion Protest Intensifies: MLA's Hunger Strike Enters Day 2
The anger and frustration against the rampant conversion of land across Goa under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act was palpable on Sunday at Azad Maidan, where St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar's hunger strike unto death entered its second day. With the government refusing to agree to Borkar's demands, a decision was taken to gather around 4,000 people for a massive protest on Monday to demand that Section 39A be completely scrapped.
From Local Issue to Statewide Movement
What began as a protest by a clutch of people from Palem-Siridao village has taken on a larger life, with environmentalists, activists, and opposition parties coming out in strong support of the protesters and Borkar. On Sunday, approximately 600 people gathered at Azad Maidan, with support pouring in from Sattari, Mandrem, Usgao, Salcete, Tivim, and several other parts of the state.
RG treasurer Ajay Kholkar declared, "We have decided to take this movement against Section 39A ahead. On Monday, we, small people, together with activists and political parties, will hold the 'Karo ya Maro' andolan. Let us show the BJP government the unity of Goans and show them a massive agitation."
Escalating Demands and Political Momentum
This protest, which began with a march to the TCP department on February 20 for revocation of land use change for 76,000 square meters in Palem-Siridao for the benefit of just one company, has now snowballed into a larger demand for scrapping all approvals under Section 39A. Borkar emphasized, "We have been taught to put our lives on stake, but the villages should be protected at any cost. All villagers, all gaonkars have one hope: that it should be a better and peaceful place. The stambh you see at Azad Maidan is a symbol of agitation, an agitation for freedom and peace. People have sacrificed their lives for freedom. We should fight for the freedom of our hills and our villages."
With the state assembly set to meet in less than a fortnight, opposition parties see the protest as a crucial opportunity to form a cohesive voice and take on the Pramod Sawant-led government. Leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao stated, "Government only understands the language of protests. It was the duty of the speaker to come to Azad Maidan to meet Borkar. Our ultimatum to government went unanswered. All opposition parties and NGOs have to set aside their differences and mobilize 4,000 to 5,000 people at Azad Maidan."
Allegations of Police Misconduct and Growing Support
GFP president Vijai Sardesai met Borkar and demanded action against the police inspector who issued the verbal order to lift and drag Borkar out of the TCP office. Sardesai asserted, "This is a legislator who was elected by his constituency. If an MLA is manhandled for standing up for his people, then no person, no resident is safe in Goa. No procedure or due process was followed. Government must immediately suspend the police inspector because that is not how an MLA can be treated."
Initially, Goa police deployed one police van of personnel, but as crowds swelled, three vans of police personnel were deployed to keep the protest in check. The protesters spent the day speaking out against the government and TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, interspersed with slogans and traditional songs.
A Mandrem resident, Babli Naik, commented, "The manner in which a legislator was dragged out of a government office is not right. This agitation against the TCP department began in Pernem and now it is spreading to other parts of the state. Seeing this is heartening."
Opposition Unity and Government Standoff
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas pitched for an alliance, saying that all opposition parties must come together. He indicated that if the AAP leadership disagreed, the AAP MLAs would take their own decision. Earlier in the day, RG's Manoj Parab gave the Goa government a two-hour ultimatum to scrap Section 39A and terminate police personnel who allegedly manhandled the MLA. However, with the government refusing to engage with the protesters, a decision was taken to reconvene at Azad Maidan on Monday at 4 PM.
Borkar and his close supporters and villagers remain encamped at Azad Maidan. An ambulance with a team of paramedics has been kept on standby to monitor Borkar's health condition closely as his hunger strike continues.
