CM meets Viresh, offers to keep 39A approvals in abeyance

St Andre MLA refuses to agree, vows to continue agitation

Panaji : In  a late night development, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant offered to keep the proposals under the controversial Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, in abeyance provided St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar withdraws his indefinite hunger strike.

He said the decision was taken after meeting  TCP minister Vishwajit Rane and senior officers Tuesday evening. He said the letter  on keeping the nods in abeyance is ready and is waiting for Borkar’s reply.

Borkar said keeping abeyance is not agreeable as scrapping of the provision is the demand.

Borkar has been on the hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in Panaji since Saturday demanding the withdrawal of Section 39A, which allows change in land use or land conversions. The legislator warned of a mass agitation in the coming days, if the demands are not met.

Earlier in the day, when pointed to the concerns raised over his health condition, Borkar said that for him the health of Goa is the priority.

Borkar has been on the hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in Panaji since Saturday demanding the withdrawal of Section 39A, which allows change in land use or land

conversions. The legislator warned of a mass agitation in the coming days, if the demands are not met.

When pointed to the concerns raised over his health condition, Borkar said that for him the health of Goa is the priority.

Sawant met Borkar at the protest site on Tuesday evening, requesting the MLA to abandon the hunger strike. Expressing concerns over the health condition of Borkar, Sawant said he urged Borkar to withdraw the fast.

“I requested Borkar to call off the hunger strike. I told him that we will discuss the ‘issues’ in the Assembly, and will sort out the matter at a right forum,” Sawant said.

Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Ganesh Gaonkar met St Andre MLA and offered to hold talks on behalf of Borkar on the issues.

“If Borkar thinks my intervention is needed, I am ready to discuss the issues with the government,” Gaonkar said, speaking to mediapersons at Azad Maidan.

Responding to a question on policemen manhandling Borkar, Gaonkar said that if anything happens within the Assembly precincts, then it “is my responsibility”.

But outside the Assembly is governed by different laws, he clarified.

Overwhelmed by the response he received from Goans, Borkar said, “We want to take forward the fight against Section 39A of the TCP Act. The fight has become stronger.”

“I want to tell the Chief Minister that Section 39A must be scrapped, for which a cabinet resolution should be adopted. Secondly, the Advocate General should file an affidavit before the Court that the proposals approved under Section 39A are scrapped. The government should pass a bill in the Assembly scrapping the controversial provision,” the legislator said.

The RGP MLA said the demand he made is on behalf of everyone who wants to save Goa.

“This demand is of all Goenkars. We need a concrete assurance that Section 39A will be scrapped,” he said.

“If it is not done then we, the Goenkars, will stand united and the agitation will continue… the hunger strike will continue. I seek support from every Goenkar. We will hold a mass agitation,” he warned.

Borkar said, “Sawant advised me to prioritise health. But more than my health Goenchem health is my priority.”

Following the Chief Minister’s request, the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao along with MLAs Altone D’Costa, Cruz Silva, and Venzy Viegas met Borkar.

“The hunger strike is taking a toll on his health, and his health parameters are not strong,” Alemao said, adding that they tried to convince Borkar to end the hunger strike.

The Opposition leader said Borkar’s protest is an inspiration for the people of Goa to fight for their rights.

“They are agitating in a non-violence manner, they are agitating at this sacred place,” Alemao said.

Three cops transferred

PANAJI:  Panaji police inspector Vijaykumar Chodankar, and police constables Shubham Bhosale and Dhananjay Parab have been transferred to the North District reserve line force, Porvorim, in connection with the manhandling of St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar last week.  Police inspector of Agacaim police station has been given the additional charge of Panaji police station. Borkar had been seeking action against the police personnel who dragged him and others out of the TCP office at Patto during their protest on Saturday.