PANJIM: Goenkars Against PDAs (GAP) has threatened to go on chain hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Panjim if the government fails to de-notify all villages from the PDAs before May 9.
Addressing the media on Thursday, GAP convener said, “We state that we shall not compromise on our demand. We demand first denotify all villages from the unconstitutional PDA’s and to amend the TCP Act so as to incorporate the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in the Act.”
GAP further said that Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai is using diversion techniques to neutralise the issue. “The people have been betrayed through false promises and Easter gifts and therefore we now announce that we will start a chain hunger strike at Azad Maidan beginning May 9. In this we call upon all NGOs who have been fighting towards this cause earlier to join and support the movement,” GAP stated.
GAP had earlier threatened a morcha to Sardesai’s residence in Fatorda demanding to scrap PDA from all villages.
Groups of villagers under the banner of GAP held a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, Panjim, last month protesting the rising numbers of PDAs in the State. The protest was attended by a large number of villagers from North Goa. A large part of the crowd was from Saligao, Candolim, Calangute, Parra and Nagoa. Besides these villages the sizable number of villagers participated from St Cruz, St Andre, Mapusa constituencies.
