Team Herald
MARGAO: Goans for Goa (GFG) has condemned the BJP government’s move to fell hundreds of trees and deprive Amarnath Naik of his only source of livelihood for its Electronic City project.
“GFG also condemns the fact that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has not bothered to visit Amarnath, who hails from his constituency. No one has even approached him with compensation. On the contrary, they trumped up some allegations and put him in jail,” said GFG President Kennedy Afonso.
It may be recalled that Amarnath Naik was arrested while protesting the forcible takeover of his land in Tuem for the government’s Electronic City project.
“Yesterday, we met Amarnath and he told us that when he had complained, the flying squad came and stopped the workers. However, within an hour, the workers resumed their activities. When Amarnath went to question them, they put him in jail on trumped up charges. This is clearly a case for human rights, as Amarnath is only protesting to protect the land he and his ancestors have tilled over the ages and was his source of livelihood,” added Afonso.
GFG has also condemned the high-handedness manner in which Parsekar is handling the case and stated that it showed the BJP government has no regard for the poor farmers of the State.
“It clearly shows that the government is trying to intimidate Amarnath into submissiveness, as he stands alone in this fight for his land; other villagers are afraid to support him due to political repercussions,” said Afonso.
GFG has requested NGOs and activists to “strengthen the hands of this son of the soil” and warned the government against underestimating the powers f the common man, who will rise in favour of Amarnath if a speedy solution is not arrived at.
