Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
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-------------------------------------------------------------- MARG begin activists 50-hour satyagraha -------------------------------------------------------------- Activists of MARG led by its convenor and freedom fighter, Gurunath Kelekar on Saturday morning began on a 50-hour satyagraha infront of the freedom fighters office at Lohia Maidan here to mourn the recent road tragedies.
Earlier in the day, Parish Priest of Grace Church, Fr Joao Pedro Fernandes unveiled the "weeping eye" plate, which will be installed at the Verna bypass, the scene of many a fatal accidents.
In his brief address, Fr Fernandes said the use of cell phones during journey coupled with the menace of stray cattle has contributed to the increasing number of accidents. "The roads have become unsafe," he said and called for supplementing government efforts to curb the high accident rate.
According to him, around 5600 people have been killed on Goan roads since 1965, adding that the vehicular population has reached the four-lakh mark between 1991 till date.
Speaking to Herald, Gurunath Kelekar said the objective behind the satyagraha
is not to target or oppose any one, but to highlight the agonies of the kith and
kin of accident victims and to associate with their sufferings.
He said MARG today morning sent a telegram to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar intimating him of the satyagraha undertaken by the activists. The telegram stated that the activists are agonised over the news of the death of Nicolau D'Costa from Canacona, who along with his wife and two children had perished in a road accident at the Verna bypass.
Kelekar said "we must admit that we cannot skip responsibility for the accidents taking place in Goa. The weight lies squarely on the shoulders of the citizens and the government," he added.
The satyagraha will end on Monday afternoon, wherein the MARG will announce its future course of action. -------------------------------------- HERALD 19/10/03 page 4 --------------------------------------
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