VALPOI: Shel Melauli villagers on Saturday demanded that the criminal cases filed against them be withdrawn forthwith failing which they will teach a befitting lesson to the government at the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
Three years back on January 6, bowing to their sustained agitation, the government was forced to drop its proposal to set up the IIT in this agricultural village and since then the villagers have been observing this day as their Victory Day.
The villagers drape a new cloth on idol of ‘Ajoba the Rakhandar’ or Ajoba the protector besides distributing sweet dessert to all who gather at the gumti dedicated to Him.
“People’s movement forced the government to drop their proposal and hence there can be no criminal cases against those who fought to drive away the IIT from our village,” said Shashikant Sanverdekar, a villager.
He disclosed that there are around 95 villagers facing criminal charges due to their participation in that movement including 25 against whom ‘attempt to murder’ cases have been filed.
“We have been demanding that the government withdraw these criminal cases against us but the government is not listening to us and hence we have decided to teach it a good lesson at the Lok Sabha elections that will be held shortly,” he said.
