Vasco: Former Sancoale sarpanch Premanand Naik called off his indefinite hunger strike on the eve of Diwali on Wednesday, following requests from several social activists, environmentalists, politicians and villagers.
However, a group of five to six agitators will carry forward their token strike every day until the Sancoale panchayat revokes the construction licence issued to Bhutani Infra’s mega project.
Over the past 10 days, people from across the state came out in protest of the Sancoale panchayat and govt over the construction of Bhutani Infra’s multi-dwelling project in the South Goa village, allegedly without the requisite permissions.
“We will not tolerate the corrupt practices of the Sancoale village panchayat, which has issued a construction licence to the project proponent, Parmesh Construction, for Bhutani’s Infra mega project. We will see that the interests of Goans in general and the villagers of Sancoale in particular are protected by state govt”, AAP’s state vice-president, Pratima Coutinho, told TOI.
She said social activists and others who supported Naik in his agitation over the past 10 days will continue demanding the revocation of the construction licence issued to the project proponent of Bhutani Infra’s mega project.
Coutinho clarified that Naik called off his hunger strike not due to pressure, but upon the request of people who had backed him during his agitation.
Late Tuesday evening, South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes had met Naik and had urged him to call off his 10-day-long hunger strike as his health was deteriorating.