PANJIM: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Friday accused the government of seizing additional farm lands at Pernem despite opposition from the farmers.
“The government is not paying heed to farmers’ andolan in Pernem, which has completed one month. Instead it is using the police machinery to silence our voice by registering FIR and arresting those demanding their rights,” GFP leader, advocate Jitendra Gaonkar said at a press conference.
Gaonkar alleged that government has already grabbed huge stretches of agriculture land in the name of development, be it for the construction of Mopa airport, Sports City, AYUSH centre among others. “Now the government is making all attempts to grab whatever is remaining. The farmers’ existence will be at stake. They are totally dependent on forest and agriculture for their living. It’s sad that the local MLA is not protecting his citizens’ interests,” Gaonkar said.
Last month, Gaonkar and Suryakant Chodankar of Goencho Avaaz were arrested for obstructing officials who were conducting survey on Mopa airport site for proposed National highway from Dadachiwadi Sukekolan to Mopa Airport. This stirred hundreds of people from Warkhand-Nagzar, Ugvem Tamboxem and surrounding villages — backed by different political parties and social activists — to protest outside the Pernem police station, demanding their release.
