SANCOALE: In a strong show of solidarity, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) including MLAs Capt Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, AAP Working Presidents Gerson Gomes & Valmiki Naik, along with other party members met former Sancoale Sarpanch Premanand Naik, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike.
Naik is protesting against the proposed Bhutani Infra mega-project comprising almost 700 villas and flats, and is demanding its immediate revocation. Naik, a respected community leader, began his hunger strike on Monday and has vowed not to quit until the construction licence given to Parmesh Constructions for the said project is revoked by the Sancoale Panchayat.
The AAP leaders extended their support to Naik, calling on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take immediate action to address his demands and bring an end to his hunger strike.
AAP MLA Capt Venzy Viegas expressed serious concerns about Naik’s health and criticised the government’s inaction, stating, “If the government, the TCP department, and the local people are all against the Bhutani Infra project, then for whom is the government waiting? Naik, who has spent his life serving the BJP, is now being ignored in his time of need. Are BJP karyakartas only useful during election time?”
Viegas further emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting Naik’s deteriorating health. “He is an elderly man, and his family is deeply worried. This is a man who gave his life to the BJP’s cause, and yet the government refuses to listen to him.”
AAP Velim MLA Cruz Silva also highlighted the ongoing issue, saying, “The Bhutani Infra mega-project issue has been raised several times in the Assembly, and we have demanded the government take action against the illegal activities. The TCP Minister Vishwajeet Rane had assured that if illegalities were found, they would inspect the site and revoke the licence. So why has just a show-cause notice been issued as a delay tactic, and why is the TCP department not acting firmly to revoke the permissions as assured by the Minister?”, Silva demanded to know.
The AAP MLAs also confronted the Panchayat Secretary Orville Vales and exhorted him to revoke his signatures put on the project approvals.
Aam Aadmi Party demanded swift action from the Chief Minister, urging him to revoke the construction licence and bring an end to the protest. They reiterated their support for Naik’s cause and stated that any deterioration in the health of Naik would be the direct responsibility of CM Sawant and TCP Minister Rane.