CM Sawant Meets MLA Viresh Borkar as MLA’s Hunger Strike Enters Critical Phase”

“CM Sawant Meets MLA Viresh Borkar as MLA’s Hunger Strike Enters Critical Phase”

PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant met the St Andre MLA, Mr Viresh Borkar at Azad Maidan late Tuesday evening and assured him that the issues would be discussed in the Goa Legislative Assembly besides urging him to call off his hunger strike.
The chief minister said Mr Borkar is positive about all the demands and assured him that issues will be discussed in the assembly adding the concerns raised can be addressed through discussion in the assembly The chief minister, after hearing patiently all the proposals put forth by the protestors at Azad Maidan, promised to look into whether this can be done or not. Goa’s health is more important than mine, asserted the St Andre constituency MLA, Mr Viesh Borkar when he was asked to shift to hospital for his deteriorating health conditions. Despite worsening health conditions and being advised to shift in a hospital for treatment Mr Borkar, vowed to continue his indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan till the demands were met. Following a top level meeting with Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, Mr Borkar declared that “Goa’s health is more important than mine,” making it clear that only concrete steps and firm action and not verbal assurances will end his fast unto death.

The MLA presented a direct “Action Plan” to the Chief Minister, revolving only around five points: First and foremost thing is accountability. Mr Borkar confronted the Chief Minister regarding the aggressive manner in which he was manhandled and “dragged out” of the Town & Country Planning department office by police. and demanded action against the police officers involved. Followed by the scrapping of St Andre proposals: He also demanded cancellation of all nine land conversion proposals in the St. Andre constituency immediately. Then the Chief Minister stated he would “look into the matter. Cabinet Resolution on 39(A): Mr Borkar insisted that the government must pass a cabinet resolution to formally scrap the controversial Section 39A of the TCP Act. He demanded that the Advocate General (AG) file an affidavit in court, officially committing the state government to scrap all proposals under Section 39(A. Finally, he called for the government to introduce a formal Bill in the Assembly during the upcoming session to permanently strike down the law.