Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Margao, November 18, 2007: The former Cortalim MLA, Mr Mathany Saldhana expressed surprise that Congress had introduced SEZs without studying the issue and vowed to fight against the government’s “anti-Goans” SEZ policy.“Any government is expected to first study and debate an issue,” Mr Saldhana said ridiculing the government’s decision to form a cabinet sub-committee to study the issue.

Mr Saldhana was speaking at a largely attended public meeting held at Betul by Goa’s movement against SEZs, on Sunday.

The meeting resolved to fight tooth and nail till all the SEZs were scrapped and vowed to intensify the struggle, if the government does not revoke SEZs by November 20.

Stating that Goans were already a minority in the state, Mr Saldhana who is the chairman of Goa’s movement against SEZs observed that the draconian SEZ policy will deteriorate their status further.

According to the BJP spokesman, Mr Govind Parvatkar the agitation against SEZs was a “big struggle” to free Goans from the clutches of land grabbers and corrupt politicians.

He said it was heartening to note that all NGOs, like-minded people and even leaders cutting across the political spectrum have come together to fight against the scourge of SEZs.

Throwing a challenge to the local Quepem MLA and GIDC chairman, Mr Chandrakant Kavlekar, Organising Secretary of Goa’s movement against SEZs, Mr Sidhanath Buyao asked him to participate in an open debate on SEZs.

He said MLAs were elected to serve the people but sadly the poor have become poorer and MLAs have become rich.

Mr Floriano Lobo of Goa Su-Raj Party gave a detail synopsis of SEZs labelling it as anti-Goans and against the interest of Goans.

Mr Buyao composed and sung a special Konkani song on SEZ, ‘Jaag re Goemkara Jaag’, which appealed to the people to come out and fight against SEZs or else Goans will be deprived even a small piece of land.

The meeting was addressed by Mr Mathany Saldhana, Mr Govind Parvatkar, Mr Florian Lobo, Mr Succoro D’Souza, Mr Prajal Sakhardande, Mr Amol Navelkar, Mr Ajay Pereira and others.

Source: The Navhind Times