Panaji, February 23 Hundreds of people protested on Monday in front of the private residence of Goa Minister Vishwajit Rane, demanding the repeal of a section of the Town and Country Planning Act that allows the conversion of non-settlement zones into settlement zones, thereby facilitating construction activities.
Opposition parties, led by Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar, have been protesting at Azad Maidan here for the past two days, demanding the repeal of the controversial Section 39A of the TCP Act. Borkar, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding the immediate repeal of the section, has also sought the suspension of police personnel who allegedly manhandled him and his supporters during the protest.
The protesters had given the government a deadline of 4 pm on Monday to accept their demands. They began walking towards the private residence of TCP Minister Rane after receiving no response from the government.
The protesters reached the Dona Paula suburb, where Rane's house is located, after travelling almost 5 kilometers on foot, and continued their protests, an official said.
Among those who participated in the protest were Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Venzy Viegas, Carlos Ferreira, Revolutionary Goans Party chief Manoj Parab, and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Sunil Kawthankar.
Speaking on the issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that those participating have the right to protest, but they should do so within the limits of the protest.
"They can properly represent their concerns to the collector. No one has stopped them from talking, but it is not appropriate to take a protest to the minister's residence. They should discuss the issue at the appropriate forum," the CM said.
The police are maintaining law and order, and the protesters should maintain decorum, Sawant asserted.