Panaji, May 25 (IANS): It's a unique protest. A collective of rural NGOs and activists in Goa has been driving around a large pig, dressed in finery, in a pick-up van to hit back at a state minister comparing Goans with squealing pigs.
Village Groups of Goa (VGG) has been moving around in large processions across south Goa villages since Monday to protest Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao's reported remark.
"Whenever a construction project starts, Goans here start squealing like pigs," Alemao told a press conference last week, while defending the construction of a mega luxury housing project in the village of Carmona, 45 km from here.
"Goans should not just protest against construction projects," Alemao had said.
The multi-crore project, which envisages 600 flats in the small village, has been vociferously opposed by Goa Bachao Abhiyaan, an umbrella NGO for several protesting groups, and the VGG.
These groups say the project will not only upset the social fabric but also worsen the already depleted basic infrastructural facilities like electricity, water supply and garbage disposal.
"Since Churchill Alemao called us Goans pigs, he should also tell us who feeds a pig like this? Does the mega construction company feed this pig? Or does Churchill feed it?" VGG spokesperson Zarinha da Cunha said to reporters, pointing to the nattily dressed country pig, sitting pretty in the rear of the pick-up van.
Judith Almeida, of the Colva Civic Forum, another NGO, said politicians were least interested in social welfare and infrastructure, and instead were keen on insulting the local citizenry for protesting against mega construction projects, which were cleared after bribing politicians.
"Churchill should resign or apologise to this pig. He called us Goans pigs, didn't he?" Judith said.
Civic protests are a constant feature in the rural landscape of Goa, with the state government clearing a number of luxury mega housing complexes.
Alemao has landed in a soup when the controversy Chief Minister Digambar Kamat stirred with his reported remark asking women not to join politics is yet to die down.