Two similar protests were held earlier this month and last month, first on the steps of the Panjim church, the second at the SGPDA market in Margao. This third protest that was scheduled to be held on July 12 was postponed to July 19 following the death of villager, Dominic Pereira, who was one of the faces leading the agitation against the project. He died of a massive heart attack.

Dedicated to Pereira, Sunday’s protest had like the others brought together musicians as well as the people from all over the State to sing and dance as a sign of peacefully demonstrating against the golf course. People from across the State sang their hearts out despite the pouring rain.

Save Tiracol, Save Goa convener Sudeep Dalvi said the idea was a “non violent, Gandhian and Christian protest against the crimes of the land sharks and the Government at the site of disputed land where the proposed golf course cum resort project is coming up, the very den of land sharks and land mafia.”

In addition to the villagers, the musical troupe also included Fr Bismarque Dias, Sidhanath Buyao, Seby Fernandes, Zico X Rodrigues, Kennedy Afonso, Eliath Fernandes, Selwyn Menezes, Carlos F Gonsalves and Dalvi.