NT Reporter
Panaji
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar on Monday accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of “going back on his words” over the assurance that cases registered in connection with protests against Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act would not
be pursued.
“Many have been issued summons. The CM has failed in his assurance. There were aged women who had participated in the protest in order to protect the land. Government is harassing Goenkars,” said Borkar while responding to a media query at
the RGP office.
Borkar highlighted what he described as “misinformation” and “coordinated fake campaigns” launched against him on social media, reportedly by teams from the
ruling side.
“Such campaigns had occurred earlier, but have intensified following the recent protest. These are attempting to link me with a controversial real estate project in St Andre constituency, which I had opposed,” he said.
Panaji police registered three FIRs in connection with the protests led by Borkar, who has been named in two cases, while Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, MLAs Venzy Viegas, Carlos Ferreira and Cruz Silva have been named in the case related to the protest march outside the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane
in Dona Paula.
Congress leader Samil Volvoikar was also summoned to the Panaji police station. He was accompanied by former AAP Goa president and lawyer Amit Palekar, who had assured during the protest that he would support people if they were called to the
police station.
“Police are selectively summoning leaders of political parties. Some are called to Agassaim while some are called to Old Goa police station. How can this be done when the case is in the Panaji police station jurisdiction? Investigation is zero. This is political harassment,” Palekar said.
