Atishi Joins Goa Land Protest

Atishi Meets Karapur Protesters at Jantar Mantar; Says Controversial Section 39A Will Be Repealed Within Month if AAP Forms Govt in Goa

NEW DELHI | Senior Aam Aadmi (AAP) Party leader, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, and Goa in-charge Atishi on Monday met protesting villagers from Goa’s Karapur at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, extending support to their 100-day agitation against an illegal mega project. Calling out the BJP government for facilitating a land grab through anti-people policies, she said the party was misusing legal provisions to benefit builders at the cost of Goa’s people and natural resources

On Monday, AAP Delhi Assembly LoP and Goa in-charge Atishi said, “The BJP government in Goa is misusing Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act to hand over the state’s valuable land, water, and forests to large builders and colonisers.” She stated that this self-destructive policy was causing severe damage to Goa’s fragile environment.

Atishi added, “Local residents across different parts of Goa have been consistently opposing the illegal land conversions being carried out under Section 39A, but the government has completely suppressed the voice of the people. The BJP government no longer represents ordinary citizens and has instead become a puppet of crony capitalists and builders.”

The AAP Goa in-charge asserted that the present rulers had no concern for people’s access to water, agriculture, children’s education, or hospitals. “Their only agenda is to fill their own pockets and benefit builders by selling off Goa’s natural resources,” she said.

Citing the example of Karapur, she noted that the land sold there at throwaway prices was owned by the same BJP minister who had signed the file approving the illegal land conversion, and said, “Such corruption is destroying the villagers’ fertile farmland and forests, making the entire area unfit for habitation.”

Challenging Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Atishi asked whether he stood with the land mafia or with Goa’s indigenous residents. “In just a few months, Goa will go to the Assembly elections, and the people of Goa will give a befitting reply to this authoritarian government,” she strongly warned.

Atishi added, “If the AAP forms the government in Goa, we will repeal the controversial Section 39A within one month. All approvals granted under this anti-people provision, along with every mega project approved under it, will be cancelled with immediate effect.”

Taking a swipe at the BJP government, Atishi asked what kind of development was being pursued by putting Goa’s water, agriculture, forests, and the lives of ordinary people at stake. “This is not development for the people. It is development for the coffers of the ruling party’s leaders and their close associates, and the AAP will not tolerate it at any cost,” she emphasised.

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha said, “The peaceful protest being carried out by the villagers of Karapur for the past 100 days to protect their existence, land, and rights is not merely the struggle of one village, but a call for justice against injustice. The AAP is not only amplifying the voices of these protesters in the national capital, but will also ensure that their resolve against this authoritarian government does not weaken.”

Sanjeev Jha said this was the struggle of every citizen whose land was being handed over to the builder mafia. “The AAP has always fought to protect the rights of ordinary people, and in this case too, we will stand with Goa’s indigenous residents until the very end, fighting for justice at every level, from the streets to the legislature,” he concluded.