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Victory Of People's Power in Goa
By Fr. Desmond de Sousa CSsR, SAR NEWS
PANAJI, Goa (SAR NEWS) -- On December 18 last year, a mammoth rally
was organized against the Regional Plan 2011 presented by the
government to the people as a fait accompli without any people's
participation.
Convener of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA or Save Goa Movement) Dr.
Oscar Rebello gave the Congress-led government of Pratapsingh Rane an
ultimatum: Scrap the Regional Plan 2011 by January 15 or face the
consequences.
On December 28, during a meeting with the representatives of the
government, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa, referring to the
groundswell of peoples' discontent across Goa, had advised, "Listen to
the people."
The first casualty of people's seething discontent was the resignation
of the main architect of the Regional Plan, Town and Planning Minister
Anastasio "Monster Rat" Monseratte January 3. But Chief Minister Rane
refused to accept his resignation. The reason is that Rane's son
Vishwajeet and Monseratte are the biggest profiteers from the Regional
Plan.
They had already amassed crores of rupees as commission by selling
prime land in Goa to business houses from outside Goa, to build luxury
apartments for the rich and famous, including, it is reported, the
Congress general secretary for Goa.
An NDTV special on Goa's land grab, filmed Monseratte confronted with
the question, "You are reportedly worth Rs 1500 crores, is this true?"
NDTV also reported that Viswajit Rane, the CM's son, and his wife are
partners in 14 companies. Building industry sources claim they have
formed more than 40 companies. Land allegedly registered by him is
worth a whopping Rs 450 crores according to book value. The gross
amount that has actually changed hands can well be imagined.
The tragedy is that practically every member of the 40-seat
Legislative Assembly, even the Opposition members, has willy-nilly
connived with and profited from the Regional Plan 2011. Therefore,
none of them can raise their voice against the Regional Plan. It is a
perfect case of chief minister "Ali Baba" Rane and the forty thieves!
When the January 15 deadline expired, the CM began to play for time
and offered to discuss the objectionable parts of the Regional Plan
with the activists of the GBA, but they were adamant against scrapping
the Plan altogether.
On January 16, the GBA organised another massive rally at the historic
Ram Manohar Lohia Maidan in Margao, scene of the Goa Freedom Struggle.
The Convenor, Dr. Oscar Rebello thundered, "The GBA holds all the 40
members of the Assembly, who have maintained a stoic silence, as
collaborators in passing the Regional Plan 2011."
He then called upon the people to "gherao" (besiege) their MLAs and
obtain written undertakings of their opposition to the Plan. He asked
the people to repeatedly restrain the MLAs until they agree to support
the scrapping of the Plan before January 22, when the session of the
Legislative Assembly begins.
Other speakers at the rally were equally vehement and threatening.
Social activist advocate Aires Rodrigues received thunderous applause
when he requested all the MLAs to commit suicide as a way out of the
situation, promising them an "honorable funeral."
Social activist Patricia Pinto warned that the women activists will
rock the political system in the State. "We will not burn buses but
will set fire to the chairs occupied by the MLAs," she warned.
Father Maverick Fernandes asked the people to show their strength "so
that we truly get a government of the people".
"Now is the time to ask the MLAs whether they agree with the demand to
scrap the Plan or say goodbye to them," he declared.
On January 18, in a sudden development, the government, bowing to
intense public pressure, decided to de-notify the Regional Plan 2011
and go in for a new 10-year Plan 2007-2017. Chief Minister Rane, who
now also holds the Town and Country Planning ministry, announced that
the entire Plan would be redone. For the new Plan, people will be
consulted and consultants for the Plan will be appointed soon.
Narrating the grassroots revolts and uprisings of local people in 2006
expressing their discontentment, that culminated in the December 18
rally of the GBA, the archbishop, December 28 had warned, "There is an
increasing disconnection between the aspirations of the people and the
pet projects of the politicians."
But when will the politicians ever learn, except through violent
protests. In Goa, the protests remained peaceful. It was genuine
victory for people's power!
