PONDA: Bhomkars are determined to intensify their protests in the coming days, after they clashed with police on Wednesday, to stop authorities from conducting valuation of trees that are proposed to be cleared for the highway expansion. Over 100 protesting Bhomkars were detained and taken to distant Collem and officials completed their work of valuation of trees.
As government made clear its intentions of highway expansion through Bhoma village, Bhomkars vowed that they will never allow it to touch or bulldoze their houses, temples, shops for highway expansion. Agitation leader Sanjay Naik said he received several phone calls assuring support to their democratically run agitation. The Bhomkars had also approached to ST Commission and submitted a memorandum about the Wednesday incident.
The villagers say they are not discouraged by this, but they are getting stronger and are preparing to fight back. “We are getting sympathy and support of Goans. We will intensify our stir in coming days. Come what may, we will never allow them to touch our houses,” Naik said.
Bhomkars held an urgent meeting at their main temple premises and decided to vehemently oppose the highway through the village and also campaign against the BJP to defeat them in LS poll. He also that besides approaching all forums, they will also file petition at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the issue.
It may be recalled that locals of Bhoma held at least four public meetings and several corner meetings against highway widening through the middle of the village which was attended by NGOs, activist from various parts of Goa and surrounding villages of Bhoma.
Naik said immediately after their democratically run agitation was crushed and police detained them, he received support of all activist who participated in their meetings. He said BJP is implementing the same plan which was scrapped by Congress government. “Our main demand is that Government show us the plan. We want the government to construct a bypass”, he added.
