PANJIM: Lawmakers cutting across party lines have condemned the partial demolition of a house and the abduction of two of its occupants at Assagao.
O Heraldo spoke to most ruling party MLAs for their views on the shocking incident.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said, “I condemn the incident. We cannot allow Goa to be just taken over by somebody who comes over here and thinks that we are soft targets. If he/she has purchased the whole property, he/she has to go to court, get an order, go to the Deputy Collector and get eviction. The victims are entitled to Mundkarial suit. They have NOC from the original landlord. As far as panchayat records are concerned, the landlord has given them (Agarwadekar family) affidavit and NOC. My job is to see that the house is constructed by the person who has demolished it. Police should have taken the bouncers in their custody.”
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “The Assagao incident is an alarm bell for Goans who sell their land to outsiders. It will not be too far for these real estate and land mafias to grab every inch of Goa. It is a matter of serious concern that male family members were kidnapped to facilitate the demolition. The Chief Minister must act against the police officers.”
Aldona legislator Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “This incident would not have happened without the handiwork of the police. I have evidence that there is a high ranking police officer involved in arranging this demolition. I will demand that the Chief Minister constitute a special inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge. I want to unravel who is behind this and will demand that this man be relieved.”
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “I am stunned and distressed that people can hire bounders and earthmovers, raze a Goan family’s house, abduct them and roam freely. I question the government whether it has outsourced law and order to outsiders.”
Bicholim legislator Dr Chandrakant Shetye said, “Whatever happened at Assagao was unfortunate. You just cannot come and bulldoze somebody’s house. I will raise this issue in the Assembly session.”
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar said, “A person from Delhi is harassing a Goan. Can we, Goans do something like this to someone in other States? Strict action should be taken against the culprits.”
Navelim legislator Ulhas Tuenkar said, “Nobody has the right to take law into their hands. If somebody owns a property then he should take action according to the Court order. It is not right to remove somebody from a house with the help of bouncers.”
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa said, “What happened is sad. Government has to take very stern action against the IPS officer involved in it. This is a war against Goans and non-Goans. It cannot happen without local patronage.”
Curtorim legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said, “This incident is an eye opener for all of us. We have to take some drastic steps to stop such incidents. Locals have sold their properties to Delhiites and outsiders and now these people are ruling us. We have to save our land.”
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said, “Whatever has transpired is unacceptable. There are established procedures to address such incidents, and regardless of the specifics, such occurrences should not happen.”
Cumbarjua legislator Rajesh Faldessai said, “Without any demolition order, bulldozers were used to forcibly evict Agarwadekar family and demolish their home, all under the watch of the Anjuna Police. I will discuss the matter with the CM. Those involved in this should be punished.”
Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said, “Nobody will support using bouncers to demolish a house. It has to be done in a legal way.”