MUSICAL PROTEST IN TERAKOL AGAINST LEADING HOTELS CO.
A section of the crowd
As announced earlier, the Musical Protest was held in Terakol in the compound of Francis one of the stalwarts of the movement against the Leading Hotels Co. Francis is also a Panch in the local Panchayat and a very motivating factor in the village to garner support of the locals against the Non-Goan Hoteliers who are all out not only to liquidate the locals from Terakol but also to liquidate the entire Terakol from the Map of Goa. Originally it was to be organized at the entrance of the Fort but due to incessant rain it was shifted to the place where it was finally held.
Dalvi seen speaking
Though it was scheduled at 3.00 PM but because of the rain it had to start at 4.00 PM with the attendance of around 500 Goans coming from all over Goa in Buses, Taxis, Private Cars and Two Wheelers. All those who attended this Musical Protest Meet showed their concern for Goa in general and Terakol in particular even by braving the torrential rain. Though I could not see any priest but surely I saw a few nuns attending this protest among others including many Hindus.
Another section of the crowd
The youth Sudeep Dalvi who was one of the stalwarts of this movement played a pivotal role to organize this protest meet so successfully in the midst of stiff opposition from the Non-Goan Hoteliers. The locals also played a major role in helping to organize this meet successfully. From their moves they looked very co-operative and supportive of this meet.
Mr. Buyao seen singing
The destructive method against Terakol by the Leading Hotels Co. in support of the current BJP government headed by Parsenkar is just a symptom of the Cancer that is going to be afflicted to the entire body, Goa. Hence, it is imperative now only to eradicate this symptom by using soft method or hard method. If this Terakol incident had to take place in any other State in India there would have been riots and murders but we in Goa following our “susegado” culture and decent tradition, we opted for soft and peaceful method of showing our concern thru Music. But how long we will remain soft and play music?
A poster describing greatness of late Domnick
Even Bible says that we have to arm ourselves to protect us from our enemies. Our enemies are on all fronts to liquidate us not only from Goa but from this Planet itself and in this move the current BJP government of Parsenkar is doing everything what he can to help the non-Goans, Migrants and even Ghanttis to grab Goan land as it is done in Terakol. In view of this, if Goans are real sons and daughters of Goan fathers then they will defeat the BJP government in the coming general election. If not, Goa and Goans are going to be finished from this planet. This is a very serious issue for which Goans must give very high importance.
Kennedy, Guitar in hand seen singing
Coming back to the protest meet, Dalwi welcomed the gathering and requested the gathering to observe one minute silence in memory of the late Domnick de Terakol.
Then he handed over the Baton to Siddanth Buyao to commence the musical protest meet where Buyao rendered a nice song in praise of Jesus Christ. Then others followed including Zico, Parra Boys, Kennedy Afonso, Fr. Bismark and Terakolkars who rendered a very beautiful song describing the greatness of Terakol village, its plants and Trees, its River, its Air its soil and its beautiful Fort. It would be nice to record this song with musical accompaniment so that the message of Terakol goes farther and wider.
Parra Boys
The speeches rendered by Mahesh Naik, Fr. Bismark and Sameer Kelekar were excellent. Mr. Kelekar made mockery of IIT Parrikar saying he is not the only man in Goa to hold that degree but “I am also holding similar degree studying in USA right up to PHD”. He promised to contact the parent company Leading Hotels Co., in the West to complain about the damages their subsidiary is doing in Goa.
Saby seen singing
Fr. Bismark showed his fury how Leading Hotels Co. is damaging ecology and environment in Terakol and went further in quoting the letter “Laudato Si” of the present Pope Francis against those who harm the ecology and environment. Unfortunately, this letter is not still disclosed to the faithful by our Church for reason best known to the Archbishop Ferrao only.
Mr. Naik seen addressing the meet
Earlier in late fifties the then Pope John XXIII issued a somewhat similar letter known as “Encyclica Pacem In Terris” which was not released by all the Bishops but wherever it was released like Brazil and Portugal, it was released with many changes in order not to hurt the ruling governments in their countries. That letter was pro-poor and in support of the people’s needs. Since Church was in good books with the governments there, not to antagonize their governments, the Bishops there refrained from releasing that letter in its original form.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.