Team Herald
Margao: Orixtt Porjecho Awaz, while vowing to continue its opposition to the Defence Expo, hit out at the Fatorpa sarpanch, a panch and another local for trying to create a divide and defended its right to oppose the project.
Reacting to recent statements allegedly made by Fatorpa Sarpanch Sanzil D’Costa and two others, Betul-Naqueri sarpanch Krishna Sawant Desai, Quitol Comunidade president Srikant Dessai and other OPA members urged D’Costa to check the survey records and other legal documents to ascertain which panchayat’s jurisdiction the Defence Expo fell under.
Using a map, records and the ongoing case, OPA said that it was wrong to try and discredit the opposition from the Betul-Naqueri panchayat as they were the affected locals as well. They also pointed out that the claims of the original land owners were irrelevant now as the land had been acquired by the government. They added that it was the Quitol comunidade’s land.
OPA spokesperson Freddy Fernandes criticized the events that unfolded when Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the site and pointed out that they were present in hundreds and yet the CM had not met them and only met a section of supporters from Fatorpa. He pointed out that Fatorpa locals were trying to create a division.
“We have been protesting for over six months and there has been no attempt to have a dialogue with us by the Chief Minister or any government officer,” said Fernandes.
He expressed disgust at the attitude of the government and for the orchestrated show of strength at the site when the CM arrived and questioned if this was a democracy or a dictatorship.
Betul-Naqueri panchas said that they had written to the government asking for a project report, but had not received a reply.
When asked about their course of action in view of the event date approaching and work at the site starting, Fernandes pointed out that they had been maintaining a close check and had prevented vehicles from going to the site in the last few weeks. He said that they would continue to protest peacefully, but warned that it depended on the government and that the opponents were keeping their legal options open.
