n Pledge to protect legacy of Jack Sequeira being hijacked by politicians n calls for safeguarding and protecting Goa’s land and rivers
MARGAO
In a development that took everyone by surprise, citizens groups, including activists inaugurated the Opinion Poll Square at the Old market circle ahead of the formal inauguration by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar scheduled on Tuesday, even as the people demanded that the Chief Minister and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai need to apologise before Dr Jack de Sequeira for their quest to merge Goa with Delhi for giving away Goa’s rivers and land.
The people have vowed that they will not allow the legacy of Opinion Poll to be hijacked by politicians, including Vijai Sardesai and Goa Forward.
Taking everyone by complete surprise, the people assembled at the old market circle with banners and placards, opposing coal transportation, nationalisation of rivers, even as a senior citizen Rosie Marie inaugurated the Opinion Poll Square by cutting the ribbon amidst call to safeguard and protect Goa’s land and rivers.
They accused both Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the TCP Minister for using the Opinion Poll to salvage their lost popularity, adding that the spirit of Opinion Poll will be upheld only if the Chief Minister and the TCP Minister declare that they will withdraw Goa’s rivers from the Indian Waterways Act and stop all coal transportation through Goa.
Addressing the media, Swati Kerkar said both Parrikar and Sardesai are trying to fool the voters when the government has failed to address burning issues such as river nationalisation, coal transportation, RP21, Mhadei river, law and order, etc. “Don’t fall prey to these leaders. The time has come to save Goa and protect the State for posterity,” she added.
Ramakhant Konkar said the government should respect the opinion of the 100 panchayat bodies, which has red-flagged coal transportation, river nationalisation, etc. “We are being indirectly merged with Delhi by giving control to Delhi over our state of affairs, including our rivers,” he said.
Aishwarya Salgaonkar said the politicians are fooling the people of Goa, adding that people do not want the continuance of this government which is out to sell Goa to the Ambanis and Adanis.
Activist Avertino Miranda said the government is silent when Goa is being neo-colonised by the Ambanis and Adanis and is out to destroy the livelihood and traditional occupations of Goans.
Elthel Lobo said the people are protesting against what is happening in Goa. “Our leaders are out to finish Goa. This is not the legacy of Dr Jack de Sequeira,” she added.
Activist Judith Almeida posed a host of questions to the Chief Minister as to why he is shying away from protecting the State rivers when Kerala government has withdrawn their rivers from the Inland Waterways Act. And, she demanded to know from the TCP Minister whether he has got the stench and the filth removed from the nearby nullahs adjoining the Opinion Poll Square. “Parrikar should tell us whether he would stop coal transportation. We are not fools. Please know that Goans are an educated community,” she said.
“We are not against development just like Dr Jack de Sequeira was not against the development of Goa when the then Chief Minister wanted to merge Goa with Mahrashtra. Goa will survive without funds from Delhi today as it survived without funds from Maharashtra then. Parrikar needs to learn from Bandodkar to respect the opinion of the people,” they said.
