CUNCOLIM: Over 300 residents of Betul and Canaguinim held a rally at Quepem market on Friday to protest the government’s decision to hold the defence expo at Betul plateau against their wishes. Holding banners and placards and shouting slogans, they warned that if the government fails to scrap the project, they will intensify their agitation across the state.
Independent MLAs Rohan Khaunte, Vijai Sardesai and Naresh Sawal, activists Fr Eremito Rebello, Fr Maverick Fernandes, United Goans Foundation and Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat jonied the protestors, who also submitted a memorandum to Quepem Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar with their demand to scrap the project immediately.
Addressing the gathering, Khaunte, Sardesai and Sawal criticised the BJP government for undertaking unwanted projects on public property and demanded that the transfer of land to the Defence Ministry be cancelled.
“We will be with you to fight against the defence expo. The government has no right to dump any project to which the people have objections. How can the government hand over land that was acquired for an industrial estate?” said Khaunte.
Claiming that former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had slammed the Congress government for giving to Central government agencies, Sardesai questioned how Parrikar was now handing over land to the Defence Ministry without taking the locals into confidence.
He continued, “The government is taking Goans for a ride. Do the contradictory statements of our Raksha Mantri and Chief Minister mean that this land is meant for post-retirement homes of army men in lieu of their support for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls?”
The locals also alleged that the government wanted to give more land to the Defence Ministry to construct recreational facilities and cottages for defense personnel.
Sarpanch Gaonkar and other panchas criticized the government for playing with the sentiments of the public. He stated, “We won’t keep quiet. If the government fails to withdraw this project, the locals will start agitations against the government.”
Incidentally, Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, who has been supporting the agitation, was absent for Friday’s rally, but his close aid ZP member Kaushali Velip was present.
