Aam Aadmi Party vociferously protested against the government for snatching land from the farmers of Aquem baixo Navelim. AAP Leader Sidharth Karapurkar led the protest along with the farmers.
Ramiro Mascarenhas, Melvin Pereira, Patricia Fernandes and AAP ZP candidate Matilda Dsilva were also present.
Karapurkar told newsmen that on one hand the government’s department of Agriculture was constructing krushi bhawan just 200 mts away, on the other, the same government was set to convert massive fertile paddy fields which have been cultivated by the farmers over many generations.
“Fields which government claims to have acquired is through cheating. Depriving the farmers their livelihoods is a heartless and criminal act. A Government with a heart for the people is the need of the hour. Land opposite dabolim airport was returned back and just few days back land at dona Paola was also returned back to owner then why these fields of poor farmers who feed people through their toil cannot be returned ?” questioned Sidharth
Local farmer augustina colaco said that they have been cultivating the fields for generations and will die rather than part with their fields.
Mr harold Pinto said that the elected MLA’s instead of being with the people should do something for their welfare. He questioned why the MLA’s who don’t support farmers were required and added that destroying fields was like killing the farmers themselves.
Mrs Mathilda Silva lamented that farmers were neglected and even their land was taken away for corporate benefits.
