MARGAO: The Aquem Baixo Sarpanch who began the ‘Farming Challenge’ has now dared all the MLAs and ministers to swear affidavits opposing the RP, ODPs and CRZ regulations.
Sarpanch Siddhesh Bhagat claims that he has been prompted to do so after this activity was termed “tokenism” and “show off” by various persons. The agriculture minister has called this childish and ill conceived.
Siddhesh Bhagat who began the Farming Challenge which has now gone viral said that the activity is not being promoted for fun. “The idea was to get the ministers who roam in big cars to the fields and ignite a desire amongst the young to get to their roots,” Siddhesh said.
Replying to the criticism, Siddhesh said that “this is not tokenism.” “What Goenkarponn are you taking ahead if getting involved in farming? Do the MLAs and ministers have the guts swear an affidavit that they are against CRZ, RP2021 and ODP,” he challenged.
He also urged to stop conversion of land pending at TCP and swear the same on affidavit.
The TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had however ridiculed the act calling it “an act of cheap publicity and childish drama.” He said that the challenge was to bring fallow land under cultivation. “In a democracy a constitutional authority can ask for affidavits and he wasn’t even born when the present RP was finalised,” Vijai said.
