Mangalore: Patrao’s Hunger-strike Steps into Day Seven – Bishop Visits
Daijiworld Media Network – (SR/SB)
Mangalore June 23: As the protest by Gregory Patrao against the forcible acquisition of land for MRPL stepped into day seven, he garnered support from Catholic Sabha as the members of the organization along with Bishop of Mangalore Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza visited the protest site in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday June 23.
Bishop said, "Helping the people in need and distress is the principle of our religion. Gregory is genuine farmer. District administration has illegally destroyed his house and taken away his belongings in the rainy season without giving chance to appeal to the higher court. I congratulate and bless Catholic Sabha and all organisations which organized the indefinite fast and protest."
Patrao, who has already lost 6.99 acres of land to KIADB and also the 350-year-old ancestral house that are of sentimental value to him. The struggle has also brought in strong support from the farmers of the remaining 2,085 acres of land earmarked to be acquired.
Speaking to Daijiworld, general secretary of Catholic Sabha Godwin Pinto said that he is with Patrao, a hard working farmer and will support him until justice is delivered. He urged that the cases filed against the farmer and his family should be withdrawn immediately. He also demanded compensation from the concerned for the loss suffered by Patrao.
Pinto said that the law-makers should allow Patrao to continue agricultural activities on his 14.27 acres of land until he uses all the options available before him through the law. Status quo should be maintained and agricultural produce as well as other goods valued at Rs 24.65 lac should be returned, immediately, he added.
Walter Pinto president of Catholic Sabha, Fr Onil and Fr William Menezes and large number of leaders of Catholic Sabha from Udupi district and Dakshina Kannada were present.