Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said a mass movement was needed against those who were stopping development in the country.

Speaking at the ”Vibrant Goa Global Expo and Summit”, the Trade and Commerce Minister cited the example of the Mopa greenfield airport in the coastal state, construction of which has been stalled following a petition in the Supreme Court.

He said that he was willing to go on a public platform with folded hands to plead to the NGOs against impeding development projects, while commenting on the delay in the construction of an upcoming greenfield airport at Mopa plateau, in North Goa, due to litigation.

“Frankly, I heard that the airport is under some litigation and it’s gone to the court. I don’t mind on the public platform to fold my hands and appeal to those NGOs and those few people who are coming in the path of development, who are not helping Goa grow, who are not helping the cause of the people of Goa by this form of litigation,” Goyal said.

“I think it is high time there is a mass movement by people against those forces who are not allowing development to happen, who are not allowing good roads, hotels, airports, expansion of ports,” he said.

Goyal said such projects will make Goa a world class state with a quality of life comparable to the best in the world.

“They (people) should intervene in such petition and request the court to allow development to come to Goa, to allow peace and prosperity in Goa,” he said.
Mr Goyal said litigation was a form of obstructing justice to the poor as they are deprived of an opportunity to lead a “better quality life”.

Earlier, the Union Minister was in news on October 18 as he made similar remarks about the Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee and dubbed Indian-American professor who won the 2019 Nobel for Economics, as Left-leaning and that he had supported Congress’ ‘NYAY’ scheme and that “people of India rejected his ideology.”

“I congratulate Abhijit Banerjee for winning the Nobel prize. You all know that his thinking is totally Left-leaning,” Goyal said.

“Banerjee supported ‘NYAY’ (poverty alleviation scheme of Congress) and people of India rejected his ideology,” the BJP leader said.

The Mopa greenfield airport is being undertaken by the GMR Group in association with the Goa government, airport, the first phase of which was to be completed in 2020, has got delayed after the Supreme Court suspended the environment clearance provided to the project.

The Union Minister during his address at the ‘Vibrant Goa Global Expo and Summit”, also urged people of Goa to promote music festivals on the lines of the iconic Woodstock festival to attract more tourists to the coastal state.

“Make the Goa festivals, something like Woodstock used to be music festivals…We are right on the cusp of the tourist season, the flight was completely full, so I can see the rush of tourists coming here and I’m sure this year is going to be a phenomenally good year for tourists,” Goyal said.