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News ArticlesForum holds meet at Mapusa against regional planNT News Service The three-hour long meeting saw a turn out of around 700 people assemble at the taxi stand. Speaking about the ill effects of the plan, the speakers felt that a stage will come when Goans will become strangers in their own land and will have to beg for land in their own state. Mr Kuldip Kamat reminded the gathering that it was a fortunate day today that the meeting coincided with the Jayanti of Swami Vivekananda. He reminded the gathering that Swami Vivekanand always stood for truth and high spiritual values, he felt that each citizen is duty bound to follow the teachings of Swami Vivekanand in that one should strive for a healthy society free of evils. The speakers accused the government of not serious about the scrapping of the plan. The speakers also sought to know why the concerned authorities have always refrained from showing them the copies of the plan when asked. The speakers maintained that hence forth gram sabhas and municipalities should be given more powers and such issues should be tackled right from the grass root level. One of the architects of the 50 per cent concession struggle and a prominent businessman from Mapusa Mr. Jeevan Mayekar has called upon the Goans to wake up from their deep slumber . He felt that if Goans continue to remain passive goa will be lost. Speaking his mind out on the plan Dr Subodh Kerkar felt that politicians are also painters like him but while he uses different shades of colour and a larger canvas, politicians use only the brown shade and are ready to bargain even for a small piece of land. He lamented the fact that inspite of concentrating on the improvement of basic infrastructure the government is concentrating on this draconian plan. Dilip Borkar in his speech said that each time there was a threat to Goa, Goans rose to the occasion and added that the communidades were facing the biggest brunt of this plan. Mr Gurudas Narvekar of the Padmanabh Sampradaya said that in the Hindu mythology there is great respect for nature. He said that just as we feel the pain nature also gets pained when we destroy it for our selfish gains and as we would go all out to take care of ourselves and our family we ought to do the same to nature. The speakers said that this meeting of today was just a reminder and that there would be no looking back after the 15th. In his concluding speech Dr Oscar Rebello maintained that efforts are on to create a division in the Goa Bachao abhiyaan and said, “ This abhiyaan is blamed for targeting MLA’s. But in fact we are absolutely sick and fed up with the system and setup of the day that is eating into the welfare of the state.” Making a call to the people, Dr Rebello said, “We want you to know your rights as it is you who can change the society without being carried away. Remember what you are doing is for your future generations. It is with this in mind that the forum is with you in trying to make you aware that each one of you has a backbone. In democracy it is the people who are powerful, therefore be aware of your rights.” He said that in the next two days if the plan is not scrapped then this agitation will be intensified and taken to every villages. He also commended the people of Loliem who have come out and opposed the plan at today’s gram saha. All councillors of the ruling council were conspicuous by their absence, however the local MLA, Mr Francis D’Souza along with most opposition councillors was present for the entire meeting. Also present were Soter D’Souza, Mr Minguel Braganza, Mr Amol Navelcar, Fr Maveric Fernandes, Mr Bharat Naik, and Mr Prasad Shahapurkar among others. |
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