Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the e-library in Benaulim, extended full support to the massive public movement at Azad Maidan against Section 39A of the TCP Act.
Kejriwal termed Section 39A as an opportunity for huge corruption by powerful ministers and officers and said it has opened the floodgates for large-scale land conversions that threaten Goa’s ecology. A special Assembly session should be called and Section 39A must be scrapped, he asserted, adding that the demand reflects the collective voice of Goans.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas challenged the TCP Minister Rane and demanded that the government immediately issue a notification scrapping Section 39A. “All 168 cases cleared under 39A must be cancelled. In Benaulim itself there are 11 cases of land conversion which has caused ecological destruction. The land must be restored to its original status. We cannot allow Goa’s fields to be buried under concrete in the name of development” Viegas said. He has demanded revocation of all licenses granted under the provision, correction of zoning changes, removal of bund-related irregularities on agricultural lands, and completion of all pending settlement corrections. He warned that if the government fails to act, AAP is ready to take this fight to every corner of Goa.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva strongly condemned the tactics employed by government to supress the protesters, which is replicating the Salazar regime. The way government mishandled a sitting MLA and general public who raised their voice by responding with police force, shows their intolerance towards peaceful resistence. Silva vehemently condemned this action conveying that supressing citizens will not silence Goa.
AAP Goa State President Valmiki Naik assured that the party will continue to support their agitation until justice is delivered. He stated that BJP is trying to put land conversions into abeyance merely to diffuse public anger, but the only real solution is the immediate and complete scrapping of Section 39(A) of the TCP Act. Only then MLA Viresh will end his hunger strike. The greed of this government is what is preventing them from repealing Section 39(A). He urged the Chief Minister to personally intervene and address the genuine concerns of citizens instead of allowing tension to escalate even further.
The Aam Aadmi Party reiterated that this is a decisive battle to protect Goa’s land, environment for the future generations. The party affirmed that it will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people until Section 39A is scrapped and Goa’s land is safeguarded from irreversible damage.