HC refuses to stay DefExpo, villagers to continue peaceful protest
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 23 March 2016 20:26 IST
Villagers opposing Defence Expo lost the legal battle today as the high court refused to grant interim relief to stay the international defence exhibition, beginning from 28 March.
Orixtt Porjecho Avaz, the organisation of Naqueri-Betul villagers, had approached the high court yesterday, objecting to the mega event of defence machinery.
While refusing to grant interim relief, the division bench headed by Justice K L Wadane and Justice F M Reis has fixed the next hearing on 30 March, one day before the four-day event ends.
The petition had expressed fear over the secrecy the union government is maintaining over the event and not disclosing any information to the locals.
Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni told the court that a presentation has already been made about the DefExpo to the villagers on 25 February and all precautions have been to dispose the garbage.
The petitioners told the court that neither the assured presentation was made nor they were present for any such presentation as claimed by the state government.
The court however told them to file their reply in this regard on next Wednesday.
Goa government however made it clear that the Quitol plateau would not be a permanent venue for DefExpo and no decision in this regard was ever taken at the government level.
Meanwhile, the OPA has said they would continue their peaceful struggle opposing the international mega event.
Some of the villagers told goanews.com that pressure is mounting on the surrounding villages of Quitol plateau as the state authorities have not made any arrangements to provide civic amenities to the workers erecting the exhibition ground.
While villagers are protesting peacefully, the law enforcing authorities however continue to harass the local leaders by summoning them to the police station.
Due to this, the feeling of the locals is strengthening day by day that the event was never meant to benefit the locals in any manner, though the state government projected it to be.
This DEFEXPO is agisnt the wishes of locals in the vicinity and also many other Goan Villagers opposing the same.
Parrikar is playing cat-mouse with ppl feelings and brought this DEFEXPO Circus like IFFI in Goa from Delhi to make money for him and his Bajpa party to win nxt Assembly Elections.
He did many "U" turns on RP 2021, Special Status, Land for Defence,and Fertile agricultural land for Western bye pass in Salcete.
Goans must unite and made him to reside in U.P not Goa.