Team Herald

PANJIM: The Goa unit of the All India Congress Seva Dal will launch the ‘Mandovi Bachao Andolan’ on October 2, to keep the river clean from all kinds of pollution. 

Addressing media persons, All India Congress Seva Dal joint secretary Rakesh Shetty said on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the Goa unit will launch ‘Mandovi Bachao Andolan’, where the members will offer flowers to the security personnel and bouncers deputed to guard the offshore casinos anchored in the river. 

Shetty said, “Simultaneously, the members will be involved in cleaning the Mandovi River front and ensure that it is pollution free. We have decided to clean River Mandovi. Through our Andolan, we will also ensure that the river is clean. All necessary steps will be taken in that direction. The agitation to save River Mandovi will be intensified in days to come.” 

Shetty, who is Goa desk in-charge of Seva Dal, said that on October 1, they will hold symbolic hunger strike at Azad Maidan along with those demanding immediate resumption of iron ore mining activities in the State. 

“We will be holding talks with them and will sit on symbolic hunger strike from 9 am to 5 pm,” he said. 

The Seva Dal leader said that on the same day, they will launch young Seva Dal brigade in Goa, with new uniform that is blue jeans pant, white T-shirt and white cap. “I call upon all the youth below age of 40 to join Seva Dal in large number,” he said. 

Shetty reiterated that in Goa, the party will not observe the nationwide shutdown call given by the party on September 10, but will hold peaceful rally on bullock cart across all major petrol pumps and distribute pamphlets to the people.