Street Voices: Are communal statements being made to divert attention from burning issues of Goa?

Published on:

05 Oct 2024, 2:16 pm

PANJIM: Just when the anti- land conversion movement by thousands of Goans is heating up, and there is no way to save face, or get out of it, polarisation has been used as a tool to divert attention. In this edition of Street Voices, we asked people if the communal statement was made to hurt the sentiments of the people to divert the attention of the people from burning issues.

"The rich and mighty are just mad to come to Goa and you are opening up Goa for them. You will get crores of rupees. I think you too want a share of Rs 300 crores. You shut your mouth and let us Goans stay peacefully in Goa. If you have guts go after chief minister Pramod Sawant and TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, who have destroyed our hills and forests." --- Tara Kerkar, Social Activist

Today the tension is Goa is rising. A stop can be put to this. But the elected head is not taking charge to put an end to this and is allowing it to happen. It looks like this has been purposely instigated and has not been calmed down, because they want the hide the bigger agitations that are happening regarding land grabbing, hill cutting, filling of fields, land grabbing and all the other destruction that is happening in Goa.

Cecille Rodrigues, Social Activist

"Last 63 years niz goenkars are living peacefully like brothers and sister –Hindus, Christians and Muslim. Those whom we elected to save Goa have let out poisonous snakes to divide Goa. Because the administration has totally failed, and they are unable to hide, they have let out these poisonous snakes. These snakes which are spreading venom are from the same party." --- Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist

Forty nine lakh square metres of land have been converted, mainly by migrant builders. At Sancoale, the people are protesting against Bhutani. At Chopdem people are protesting against those trying to destroy the hill. In Morjim, one Karnataka actor has destroyed the hill and has dug bore wells, depriving the people below of water. Now that there are huge protests against the Town and Country Planning Department and the Chief Town Planner, the climate is heated up. At this time religious issues are being raised against a Saint. We condemn this. This is to divert the attention of the people. All the politicians are involved in these (land scams) and they are out to finish Goa.

Xencor Polgi, Social Activist

"Of course the communal statement has been made to sidetrack the burning issues. But it is a two pronged agenda. We have the highest unemployment, garbage problem, destruction of our land, the roads are miserable. When the communal statement is made see how the attention is diverted. The second agenda is to polarize. The present dispensation has nothing to show the people. So the only thing is to polarize on caste and religion and try to secure the vote. But even that in the general elections did not work. It has been proved that polarization does not work." --- Trajano D’Mello, Political Commentator

The way the BJP has executed its plan and have done as they like. The main issue of people is to save their lands. Now the Chief Town Planner is back signing the files. Till Goans have their land, they have their identity, otherwise all will be lost. I also believe in St Francis Xavier and I had a hunch that the way the agitations were going, they would do something. BJP has a cut in this. Their motive is that Goans should not be united and not live in peace.

Tanoj Adwalpalkar