Team Herald
VALPOI: With the model code of conduct coming into force in the state in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, agitating Melauli locals on Sunday have decided to keep their protest on hold for the time being.
However they vowed to continue their fight till their demands are met.
“We will works against the present BJP government and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane. We will teach them a lesson in 2022 Assembly polls,” the villagers pledged.
“For the last 20 days we are protesting at Guleli panchayat premises to fulfil our three main demands. We demand withdrawal of the false criminal cases in which 40 innocent villagers were charged during the IIT agitation in Melauli, revert back the Revenue Department land, given to the then proposed IIT project in the village and stop the case presently at the Panchayat Director on ITT compound hall construction issue,” they demanded.
The BJP government for the past decade has totally failed to fulfil our demands. The BJP MLA of Valpoi constituency and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane is harassing and torturing us by misusing government machinery,” Shankar Naik, a villager alleged.
Due to the Model Code of Conduct, we are keeping our protest on hold for the time being. But we will continue our fight in a different way. We will not keep quiet till our demands are met,” said Shashikant Sawardekar, another villager.
