VALPOI: Shel Melauli villagers on Tuesday took out a bike rally in entire Sattari taluka accusing Health Minister and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane action of misusing the government machinery against them during the IIT project agitation held in the village last year.
The villagers accused Rane of forcing the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to file criminal cases against 40 innocent villagers.
“We held a peaceful protest against the proposed IIT project in Melauli for almost nine months. During our protest the Rane misused the government machinery to break our protest, to harass and torture us” they claimed.
They further allege that the Valpoi MLA told the Chief Minister to file the criminal cases in police station and also with the Panchayat Director. “We condemn the act of Rane by holding a protest bike rally in entire Sattari taluka,” they said.
The bike rally was stopped by PI Mohan Gaude, when the villager were heading towards Usgao and Ganjem villages. The PI informed them there was a function attended by Chief Minister in Ganjem, so they cannot hold a rally in that area. The locals took out the bike rally in Valpoi and Poriem constituencies.
“Until and unless criminal cases are not completely revoked and terminated and the mutation work of 67/1 is not reversed or revised, We won’t keep quiet. This rally in whole of Sattari is a step to showcase our unity and to enlighten the Valpoi and Poriem constituents who have in past have supported us. We expect their help in the coming days. We will continue our agitation as it is with the same pace and may even intensify it,” they warned.
