AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
GONCOI, SANCOALE: The video circulated on anti-Bhutani crusader Premanand Naik supposedly eating during his fast Premanand Naik is turning out to be a blockbuster to those protesting against the villas and 700 swimming pool Bhutani housing project at Sancoale.
Naik, whose fast unto death entered its ninth day, is turning out to be a real-life hero, whose following has only increased after, as the locals say, “a fake video to defame him”, was circulated.
As the night grows older and the mosquitoes start making conversation difficult, the women seated at a corner can be heard evaluating methods of making garlands of slippers for “the men they think have stooped below their belts.”
Ujwala, Premanand Naik’s supportive wife, tired in body but steadfast in spirit, said, “I didn’t expect people to stoop so low. Whether my husband is there or not, I will one day place a garland of sandals on them. If they are not there, I will garland their wives.”
“They first tried to silence us by making a nut case speak badly about our saint Francis and now they have got these three guys to spread false videos. With God’s grace, the date on the video exposed their sham,” observed Clementina one of the women at the fast site, sitting in solidarity.
The accusations that he was nibbling a snack and drinking alcohol in the toilet - below where he is fasting - do not carry any weight with the thousands who come in his support. Instead, it has disgusted many.
“The message from the video is clear: the government is in panic mode and it wants to break the people movement again.” thinks Joseph Gracias from Fatorda.
“I will breathe till God decides I must. People from all over know why I am on this indefinite strike. By trying to defame me, those who did this deed, have bolstered our unity and made fools of themselves,” says a tired-looking Premanand as he tries to keep mosquitoes at bay.
On Premanand's eighth day of fasting, rain clouds burst over Sancoale. Heavy rains forced volunteers to prepare new bedding for him, keeping him company. Once a mosquito net was placed on top, Premanand made his way in.
“Whatever people say, God knows and I will continue doing what I am destined to. Lies do not stick to me. I have grown the rough way and am ready to die happy for the cause of my Goa,” murmurs Premanand.
On entering his new makeshift bed outside the Sancoale Panchayat House, Premanand asks for his wife Ujwala. “I am worried about her. She passed out twice today and has not been keeping well,” he mutters as he sips from a water bottle.
Sitting amidst several women gathered, Ujwala tries to force a smile through her bleary eyes. “These same men have daughters and wives. Would they like them to be recorded during their private moments,” she asks.
For the hundreds coming to extend their support to Premanand, the matter is about a simple ‘No’ to the massive project Bhutani is trying to enforce on the people.
“When you know there is going to be a problem, give in instead of playing with stories of how he is eating when he should be fasting. I think it is time for the government to cut this rubbish” advises Ashok Souza who has driven down from Velsao.
As it stopped raining, Premanand asked to be escorted towards the road to relieve himself. “I expected the government to relent in three or four days. The Chief Minister kept promising that a solution would be found in two days. It’s the eighth day today and I see no hope,” says Premanand and he tries to make himself comfortable within the mosquito net.
“It is obvious that the tallest leader of the state is involved because of the presence of police assisting the Bhutani bouncers instead of the people,” reasons Premanand.
“The fact is that Premanand is on an indefinite fast to save our land and we are with him. If he stops his fast today, someone else will start because the voice of the people cannot be snuffed always,” warns Mahesh Nader who rode from Borda, in Margao.
As people keep sharing their sentiments, the drizzle finds protestors searching for dry places. Premanand makes a request: “Seeing you all in this rain at this time of the night makes me sad and worried. Please go home. I will be OK.”
His wife shuffles herself in the chair and promises to go and pick up their son staying with a neighbour. As the people begin to leave, more start coming.
And, the support for Goa’s environment looks fluorescent green in the dark.
Premanand Naik ‘holding fast’ on 9th day
Team Herald
SANCOALE: As former Sancoale sarpanch Premanand Naik’s hunger strike against the controversial Bhutani project entered the ninth day, his vital parameters kept fluctuating, with his blood pressure shooting up and his blood glucose levels falling. While his supporters urged him to call off the strike, Naik held fast – quite literally – that he would call it off only when the permissions to Bhutani had been withdrawn.
Naik is weak and finding it difficult to speak or move around. The South Goa District hospital has been kept on alert keeping his health condition in mind.
Among the supporters who sat in solidarity with him were Laura Gracias, Peter D’Souza and others. “I spoke to Premanand in the morning and the doctor also checked him. His BP is rising and glucose levels have gone down. We have urged him to end the fast, but he is insisting that the permissions to Bhutani Infra be withdrawn first,” said D'Souza, expressing hope that the government would listen to the protesters and withdraw the permissions to Bhutani.