Goa government at it again, razes down Kannadigas' houses, temple
- The local government has brought down over 55 homes built on government land
- The Kannadigas claimed that they have been living here for the past four decades
- Irked with the move, CM Siddaramaiah said that he would write to his counterpart Manohar Parrikar
FollowGoa government unleashed its inhuman side when it demolished homes of Kannadigas on the Baina beach leaving hundreds of Kanndigas, homeless. It has razed down over 55 houses of Kannadigas who have been staying there legally for the past 40 years.
The local administration personnel razed down the concrete houses while the police stood for security. They have brought down even Basaveshwara temple that was in the locality. The incident has angered Kannadigas who have condemned the Goa government's inhuman attitude.
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Watch: Houses of Kannadigas on Baina beach have reduced to debris nowÂ
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"We have been living here for the past 40 years. We have the Aadhaar card, voter identity cards to prove our residential credentials. Like Goans, even we too have paid the taxes for the local civic body, paid the bills of civic amenities too. In what way we are different from Goans now," asked Siddanna Meti of Goa Kannadigas Association while speaking to a television channel.
Refuting the allegations that the Kannadigas were living illegally on the land, Meti sought to know at least 20 houses are built on the government land to which they are paying the tax. "If the civic body felt that we were staying illegally, why did it wait for four decades," Meti questioned.
After Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly refused to discuss the Mahadayi river dispute even with the State BJP leaders, the Goa government's move is sure to escalate the tension between the two states. For, this is not the first time that Kannadigas in that state was being troubled by the government. Earlier, too, the government authorities had razed down the huts of Kannadigas in Goa forcing them to migrate to their homelands. Majority of the Kannadigas who live in Goa hail from Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belagavi and other North Karnataka districts. They always live under the threat of being evacuated, rued Meti.
Following an appeal by the Kannadigas, the State government had recently sent minister RV Deshpande and MLA Ivon D'Souza to mitigate the tension. But in vain.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told mediapersons on Tuesday that he would write to the Goa government on the demolition of Kannadigas' homes.
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