The “Enough is Enough” movement has given authorities a 15-day ultimatum to reconvene the prorogued Assembly session and take up the Consolidated Land Bill. Should the government fail to act, organisers have vowed to lead a mass protest march to the capital.
This rallying cry was delivered by Dr Justice Ferdino Rebello, who addressed an impassioned crowd at a public meeting in Sanguem on 11th April.
Justice Rebello praised Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s call for longer Assembly sessions to address public concerns, and urged the Governor to spearhead efforts to reconvene the Assembly and tackle the urgent crisis of green land being converted for settlements.
The budget Assembly session, originally planned for 6th to 27th March, was abruptly cut short and adjourned on 16th March after the Election Commission announced the Ponda by-election.
However, on 24th March, the Bombay High Court at Goa stepped in, cancelling the Ponda by-poll because the elected legislator would not meet the legal requirement of having served at least one year in office.
In light of these developments, Justice Rebello argued at the Sanguem meeting that the Governor must now reconvene the Assembly to address the vital Land Bill—a proposal supported by many opposition MLAs but sidelined when the session was cut short.
He called upon citizens to mobilise at Azad Maidan in Panaji in overwhelming numbers should officials fail to recall the Assembly and pass the Consolidated Land Bill.
Click here to read the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill
Justice Rebello warned that if the Land Bill is not passed, voters should consider voting out the current MLAs, ministers, and even the Chief Minister in next year’s Assembly elections.
He stressed the urgent need to pass the bill to halt the rampant destruction of Goa’s paddy fields, orchards, forests, hills, and water bodies—damages often enabled by laws that courts are increasingly striking down as unconstitutional.
Veteran Sanguem citizen Santan Fernandes chaired the meeting, which also featured remarks from Sanguem councillor Meshu D’Costa, Manoj Paryekar, Rakhi Prabhudesai, and Jamat-e-Hind Goa President Asif Hussain.
Justice Rebello also honoured the Mirabag warriors of Sanvordem, who were lauded for their victorious 49-day battle against the controversial bandhara project.
The meeting was compered by Tony Cardozo.
