Panaji: The ‘Enough is Enough’ movement has given authorities a 15-day ultimatum to reconvene the Assembly session, which was adjourned sine die over Model Code of Conduct and take up the Consolidated Land Bill.
“Should the government fail to act, we will lead a mass protest march to the capital,” said former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court Justice (retd) Ferdino Rebello, while addressing a public meeting in Sanguem on Saturday.
Justice Rebello praised the Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s call for longer Assembly sessions to address public concerns, and urged the Governor to spearhead efforts to reconvene the Assembly and tackle the urgent crisis of green land being converted for settlements.
The Budget Assembly session, originally planned for March 6 to 27, was abruptly cut short and adjourned on March 16 after the Election Commission announced the Ponda by-election.
However, on March 24, the Bombay High Court at Goa cancelled the Ponda by-poll.
In light of these developments, Justice Rebello said that the Governor must now reconvene the Assembly to address the vital Land Bill.
He called upon citizens to mobilise at Azad Maidan in Panaji in overwhelming numbers should officials fail to recall the Assembly and pass the Consolidated Land Bill.Rebello warned that if the Land Bill is not passed, voters should consider voting out the current MLAs, ministers, and even the Chief Minister in next year’s Assembly elections.
He said the bill is needed to halt the rampant destruction of Goa’s paddy fields, orchards, forests, hills, and water bodies.
Rebello also honoured the Mirabag warriors of Sanvordem, who were lauded for their victorious 49-day battle against the controversial bandhara project.
