BJP backs Goa govt's decision to hold Defence Expo

Panaji: Amid allegations of land acquisition by the Opposition, the BJP in Goa on Saturday said that it stands by the state government's decision to hold Defence Expo in the state.

"There is no opposition for (holding) Defence Expo in the state. Only few people are trying to create problems. But majority of the people want Defence Expo to happen," Goa BJP unit president Vinay Tendulkar told PTI.

BJP workers have decided to scuttle the opposition as the event would span only for four days and it is temporary in nature, he said.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar yesterday said the government was determined to hold the event at Betul village under any circumstances.

"When Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the site at Betul village, the party workers had gathered in large numbers. The workers were from the constituency where the event is planned," Tendulkar said.

He said the state government has already made it clear that the structures that would be put up will be of temporary nature and would be removed after the event.

"There is no issue of land acquisition. The opposition for the project is baseless," he said.

Defexpo 2016 is scheduled between March 28-31.

Agitators led by Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro, local legislator Chandrakant Kavlekar and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai and several NGOs have been opposing the decision to hold Defexpo in the state, claiming that the locals were not taken into confidence.

The Opposition leaders have been thwarting the construction work at the site.