Borkar: Forced to protest as TCP answers were delayed

Panaji: St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, who is on the fifth day of his hunger strike, attended the business advisory committee meeting in a wheelchair on Wednesday. He told speaker Ganesh Gaonkar that he was forced to hold a protest in the town and country planning (TCP) office as attempts to find solutions through the legislature had proved futile.

“We have to hold protests because we don’t get answers. I told this to the speaker,” said Borkar.


He said assembly questions posed to the TCP department were either unanswered or the responses were delayed, which hindered a detailed debate in the House.

“The answers that we ask from the TCP department we don’t get. I told this to the speaker. The speaker assured me that, going ahead, this won’t happen, and the chief minister also said that the chief secretary will ensure the TCP department provides the answers,” Borkar told reporters after the BAC meet.

During the meeting, Borkar briefed Gaonkar about the protest, the demands of the villagers of Palem-Siridao, and the manner in which police personnel dragged him out of the TCP office.

“I told him that, as the custodian, he should take action,” said Borkar. “I told him that he needs to protect us legislators. And, as the leader of RG in the House, it is my right to bring up questions about Section 39A, about Bills, and about how I was manhandled by the law and order machinery.”

Responding to TCP minister Vishwajit Rane’s statement about the need for protesters and MLAs to maintain decorum in govt offices, Borkar said govt officials also need to maintain decorum while speaking to legislators.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, supporters and protesters were asked to maintain distance from Borkar, whose immune system may be weakened due to his five-day-long hunger strike. Signboards were placed at Azad Maidan asking people to avoid contact with Borkar and his colleague, who are leading the agitation against Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai met Borkar at Azad Maidan late evening Wednesday where he urged him to adopt a middle ground and give up his fast. “For 39A to be repealed, it has to go to the assembly which is meeting in eight days. Nobody can survive for eight days on a hunger strike. I am concerned about his health,” said Sardesai.

The protest at Azad Maidan continues, with Borkar and Tushar Gawas maintaining a fast unto death until govt scraps Section 39A. Villagers from Palem-Siridao and members of the ST community, remain at the site, singing songs to lift the spirits of the duo. An ambulance with paramedics and police remains on standby.