St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar hospitalised as his health condition deteriorates
Panaji : Upping their ante against the controversial Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, a large number of agitators on Monday changed their tack and marched to the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane at Dona Paula, holding a sit-in protest there and clamouring for the scrapping of the provision.
The agitation entered fourth day on Monday as there was no assurance from the government on the twin demands: the withdrawal of Section 39A, which allows change in land-use zones or land conversions, and action against police personnel who manhandled Revolutionary Goan Party’s St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar on Saturday.
Borkar, who is at the centre-stage, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Saturday at the Azad Maidan in Panaji.
RGP treasurer Ajay Kholkar said that owing to the worsening health condition of the legislator, they decided to return from Rane’s residence to the Azad Maidan and continue their protest there.
Late Monday night, Borkar was admitted to a city hospital.
The agitators had planned a mega protest at the Maidan on Monday. However, in a last-minute change, they started walking to the TCP Minister’s residence.
The police were taken by surprise as they were seen struggling to stop the crowd. After a while they managed to stop some agitators near the National Institute of Watersports, Caranzalem, which is around five kilometres away from the Azad Maidan. But in the end, most of the protestors managed to reach outside the minister’s residence. Some of the agitators took some other routes to avoid the police.
However, the minister was not there at both his residences. Inspector-general of police Keshav Ram Chaurasia, North Goa district collector Ankit Yadav and other senior officials were present on the field trying to pacify the agitators.
This also resulted in traffic chaos affecting commuters as well as tourists. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao along with MLAs Venzy Viegas and Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that this is a people’s agitation, and that they stand by them.
“What has the Chief Minister done on the issue? We are law-abiding citizens; Goa is being destroyed. This is people’s movement. We will support what people decide,” Alemao said.
“We had opposed Section 39A in the Assembly. However, it was passed,” he said.
Stating that the government fears peaceful protest, Kholkar said, “…No violence please. We should continue the protest in a peaceful manner.”
RGP president Manoj Parab urged the agitators to stay calm and said, “Please don’t do anything stupid or else they (the government) will get an opportunity. Non-violence is the power. We want the government to accept our demands. We had to stay cool and calm,” Parab said.
The St Andre legislator was manhandled on Saturday when he was forcibly taken out of the TCP office located in a building at Patto in Panaji.
Following which, he decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike.
It may be noted that on Friday several villagers from Siridao and other areas along with Borkar held sit-in protest at the TCP office.
