At Azad Maidan, the protest site has turned into a temporary home for villagers from Siridao. Under makeshift arrange ments and open skies, or dinary men and women — many of them home makers — have stepped away from their kitchens, fields and small business es to demand the scrap ping of Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. On the fifth day of their agitation, fatigue is visible — but so is resolve. “We have problems when it comes to food or even tak ing a bath. But we are en during it,” said one protest er, her voice steady despite the strain. Another woman, who had been listening qui etly, added: “I came here to day after having just a cup of tea. I just could not resist taking part in the protest.”
For many, this is not symbolic participation. Several women have been sitting at the site for hours each day, some sacrificing their daily wages to remain part of the movement. Meals are being cooked and shared at the venue itself as the protest stretches on. “We are concerned about our future generations. I sell vegetables, but I have left my business for the sake of this movement,” said another protester, underlining the depth of anxiety driving the agitation. The protest has triggered political action as well. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas has written to Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju seeking an urgent appointment and urging that a special session of the Goa Legislative Assembly be convened to scrap Section 39A. The Governor has granted an appointment at 10 am on Thursday, February 26, 2026. A joint delegation of Oppo sition MLAs and leaders from AAP, Congress and the Goa Forward Party is expected to meet him to formally press for a special Assembly session to repeal the contentious provision. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai maintained that the issue can only be resolved on the floor of the House, which is sched uled to convene in eight days. He also voiced concern over how long the hunger strike can continue if a resolution is delayed. Villagers from St Andre allege that Section 39(A) ena bles large-scale land-use conversions and development permissions that could alter zoning regulations and affect agricultural land, open spaces and residential areas. They argue that the provision may open the door to unplanned development, benefiting select interests at the cost of local communities. When asked whether the state Cabinet had taken any decision, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Everything that needed to be said was already stated yesterday (Tues day).” Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane declined to comment. However, in a marked shift from the conciliatory tone he adopted a day earlier, Sawant on Wednesday warned of strict action against those involved in the recent protest at the TCP office and against individuals accused of issuing threats at the TCP minister’s residence. Speaking after a meeting of the legislature wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Chief Minister said a complaint had been received from the TCP office alleging that certain files went missing following the protest. “We have received a complaint from the TCP office stat ing that some files went missing after the protest. A female staff member has also complained that she was verbally abused during the agitation,” the Chief Minister said. He added that the government had earlier warned the St Andre MLA to step outside and continue his agitation be yond the office premises. “We had asked him to step out and carry on his protest outside the office, but he did not listen. Therefore, he was escorted out, and in the process, he sustained injuries,” Sawant said. Stressing that protests must remain within the bounds of law, he said: “There is a proper way to hold an agitation. Marching to a minister’s house and issuing threats will not be tolerated. Nobody will be spared. Strict action will be taken.” Sawant further alleged that attempts had been made over the past few days to create an atmosphere of fear, claiming that protesters tried to attack a minister’s res idence and abused him while taking law and order into their own hands. “Not only will cases be registered, but stringent action will also be taken against those responsible. They have crossed the limit and will have to pay the price,” he assert ed. As the political temperature rises, the women at Azad Maidan remain seated on the ground — tired, uncertain, but unwavering — waiting to see which way the govern ment moves next.
