MARGAO: Looking back to all the major events taking place in Goa, the people of Goa will remember the year as the year of protests and agitations against the corrupt government. As the year 2024 is slowly coming to an end, wave of protests were witnessed across Goa which highlighted citizens’ collective voice in fighting for their rights. In this edition of street voices, Herald TV spoke to people in Margao on what were the biggest agitations of 2024?
There were a number of agitation, but in future were have to come out in even greater numbers and fight. The reason is because of its brute majority the government does not care. Even if people shout it does not have impact on them. So in future the agitations have to be more aggressive. The biggest agitation in 2024 was the agitation against EVMs. One agitation was held in Margao and the second in Panjim, then we marched to the office of the Election Commission. If election was not declared, we would have had an even bigger agitation. The use the EVMs to capture all the states and then do as they like. We have to continue these agitations till all the EVMs are scrapped. We have to revive the agitation and we will do it since it is the need of the hour.
Savio Coutinho, Convenor, Shadow Council, Margao
The biggest agitations in 2024 were against Mega Projects and the second was against coal being transported through Goa through double tracking and highways. They have taken advantage of Goans that people too are confused, what should be done. The source of all this starts from the EVMs. Till the EVMs are there the politicians are not scared of anyone. They are not bothered about the voters, they are just having confidence in the EVMs. We have to sort out the source of these problems which are the EVMs. We had started a campaign “EVM hatao, Desh Bachao”. Now the movement has spread even to Maharashtra and political parties too have realized this. There is a great suspicion about EVMs and we will restart the agitation against EVMs.
Jack Mascarenhas, Social Activist
The biggest agitations in 2024 were, the agitation against the Bhutani Project (at Sancoale). That was a major agitation. Now there is an ongoing agitation against Sunburn in Pernem. Now I don’t not know when it will take off, but a major agitation will happen in the cash for job scam. These are the three major agitation of 2024. There were many agitations, but most were pertaining to environment and are still happening. The agitation against Bhutani has cooled down a little, but one cannot predict when it will ignite again. In the cash for jobs scam I don’t know when a major agitation will start in Goa, but it will. The third agitation may blow up any moment. If the agitation take a powerful course, people will surely get justice.
Prashant Naik, General Secretary, Goa Forward