For the first time in five decades, ever since Pratapsing Rane, was elected for the first time from Sattari fifty years ago to the Third Goa Legislative Assembly, the family has a Opposition.
Thanks to the Health minister Vishwajit Rane, himself being in the Goa Legislative Assembly for last 20 years almost, for allotting 10 lakh sq meter of land to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa.
Locals are outraged by the move as they feel government is grabbing their land and livelihood.
Ranes have dominated politics out of their home in the north eastern pocket of Sattari in Goa. They have had a set of revolts and peace treaties with the Portuguese while the latter were ruling Goa.
Rane dominated politics in Goa for the entire decade of the 1980s, and for part of the 1990s.
But for last five decades there has been nothing what has been seen in last one month or so.
After the Senior Rane, son Vishwajit Rane was seen as the undisputed king of Satteri. He had never thought something like this would come up while mooting the IIT project in his constituency.
First it was just a handful of people from Shel-Melauli opposing the IIT but yesterday we could see hundreds, which could soon become thousands.
There does not seem to be any fear of any politician or leader if yesterday’s protest at the Guleli panchayat could be seen.
People were shouting slogans against Vishwajit Rane, BJP and the Chief Minister.
So does this mean Rane’s influence is waning in Sattari constituencies of Valpoi, Poriem, Bicholim, Mayem and Sanquelim?
It is quite clear that Vishwajit Rane is shaken up simply because initially he ignored the protests and police machinery was pressed to shut down the protestors but that seems to have backfired.
The handful of youth initially has now become nearly a thousand.
Rane, after the protest, seems to have mellowed down when he said that the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant must now handle the situation of IIT Goa.
Reacting to the protests at Guleli, Rane said that he has tried to help the villagers by keeping out the temple land.
“Those who have any issues can write to the chief minister. I have told the CM that he has to personally solve it now,” he said.
Rane said that he does not want to talk anything on IIT issue.
“My intention was that this project will bring employment and development in the constituency,” he said.
