Chirag called off his fast after appeals from prominent citizens, including former MLA and Konkani activist Adv. Uday Bhembre and noted cardiologist Dr Francisco Colaco. Both emphasized that the Margao Municipal Garden serves as the “lungs” of the city and must not be harmed in any way.
Throughout the day, several citizens from all walks of life visited Chirag at the garden, expressing solidarity with his movement to protect the space from concretization. Among them were Congress leaders, including Youth Congress Chief Archit Naik and Congress General Secretary Pradip Naik, besides members of the Shadow Council for Margao led by Convenor Savio Coutinho.
Chirag later told the media that he had initially planned to go on a hunger strike only for a day on Friday, but decided to extend his strike overnight by a day after what he called an attempt made by Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar to misguide Madgavkars on the garden project. “My peaceful protest was just to create awareness amongst the people of Margao over the two- storeyed project. I am happy that I have not only succeeded in creating the awareness, but 99.9 per cent of the people have understood the issue in right perspective”, he said.
Saying enough is enough Chirag disclosed plans to take the movement forward, not just the garden project, but all projects initiated or proposed in Margao through different departments without taking Madgavkars into confidence by throwing the system to the winds.
In his brief address, Dr Colaco said it is very distressing that the MMC has proposed a two-storied structure inside the Municipal garden. “The garden has been the green lungs of Margao over the decades. It is sad that the iconic garden is totally defaced. I am terribly pained to see the deterioration in the garden. Margao deserved much better treatment”, he said.
Adv Bhembre said it is sheer foolishness to propose a two storeyed building inside a garden. He recalled that the existing structure was once built to set up a restaurant, but the plan was shelved after public outcry. “For whom is the two- storeyed building when the people had opposed similar plans decades ago”, he said, adding that people of Margao will become a laughing stock if a building is allowed in the garden.
He urged Chirag to take the movement forward through various means and protect the interest of the people of Margao.
Activist Mahesh Nayak warned that people of Margao will not remain quiet if the MMC tries to bulldoze with the project, urging the people to stay alert and foil attempts to build the two storied structure.
