PTI
New Delhi
Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien on Monday said the government should make efforts to preserve the rich coastal culture of Goa and accused the BJP-led regime as well as opposition Congress in the state of not doing anything for people.
Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, O’Brien said, “Smaller states rarely get a chance to have their voices heard here, so I’m happy today to raise the issue of the need to preserve the rich coastal culture of Goa.”
“The coastal culture of Goa is based on two communities – one is the fishing community, with all their great traditions and the toddy tapping community,” the TMC leader said.
“They have great traditions, but now they’re going through an existential crisis, and for a variety of reasons, primarily because of the CRZ or the coastal regulation zones. As a result, these fishermen can’t build homes, they can’t park their boats… Trawlers are also coming and robbing them of their livelihood. The issue here is affecting 20,000 fishermen, about one lakh people in this community,” he added.
The TMC leader also slammed the Congress and said that even as people voted for them and made 11 MLAs win, eight of them switched to the BJP.
“What do the people of Goa do? What are the options they have?” O’Brien asked.
“The Goa government is doing nothing. And what was the opposition doing there? They elected 11 MLAs from the Congress in good faith, eight Congress MLAs left and went to the BJP. So who will protect the people of Goa? I appeal to this government. Leave the politics aside and let’s get together to help these states,” he said.
