By Gaurang Prabhu Malkarnekar/ Goenmkarponn
Margao: Gawada Kunbi Velip & Dhangar (Gakuved) Federation, Adivasi Sanghatana Quepem, The Scheduled Tribe Association Sao Jose De Areal and Goenchya Kul Mundkaracho Avaaz strongly condemned the inhuman act of Goa Govt and Goa police to suppress the voice of Melaulim Tribal villagers by inciting violence.
They have also threatened to take the protest throughout the State if the government does not back out from Melaulim.
“We strongly condemn the inhuman act of Goa State Govt in connivance with Goa Police department to suppress the voice of Melaulim villagers who were peacefully protesting against their ancestral land grabbing for IIT project. We further condemn the abuse of powers by police personnel who stamped and walked over the poor tribal villagers of Melaulim,” they said in a press release issued here.
The members of our organisation were present at Melaulim yesterday and therefore they say they have witnessed the above brutal Act of police personals.
“The police first have incited violence by walking over the people who were peacefully protesting by sleeping on the land. Later police used tear gas and then started lathi charge. The question we want to raise here is who has given necessary orders to lathi charge? The Goa State Govt and police have abused their powers to fulfil the greed of Health Minister Vishwajeet Pratapsingh Rane who is eying on the land of Murmune and surrounding villages,” they asked.
The association also criticised the statement of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stating that an FIR has been lodged under various sections of IPC against Melaulim villagers for attempt to murder, half murder etc.
“We again condemn this Statement of Pramod Sawant We want to tell him that it is you in connivance with police personnel and Vishwajeet Rane who have incited violence and abused the human rights of poor protesting villagers of Melaulim. On this ground the Chief Minister and Health Minister should immediately resign from their posts. The Govt should also withdraw all the charges registered against the villagers,” he said.
They said that the Tribal villagers of Melaulim are protecting the Melaulim land since ages.
“Many generation have successfully survived on this land for their livelihood. Beside this, the land proposed for IIT falls under Eco Sensitive area. The Melaulim villagers have raised valid objection to setup IIT project in their village. Development cannot be at the cost of lives and livelihood of Scheduled Tribe villagers. We stand strongly in solidarity with Melaulim villagers. This is an attack on the entire Scheduled Tribe community and other villagers who are peacefully and happily living in Melaulim village since generations. We warn the State Govt to back off from Melaulim village. Otherwise the consequences will be that the State Govt may face law and order situation across the State due to protests by Scheduled Tribe and other organisation,” they said.