AAP lader Valmiki Naik joins Chimbel protest, urges scrapping of Unity Mall project

Goa Khabar : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Valmiki Naik visited the Chimbel protest site today, throwing his full weight behind the local community’s fight against the proposed Unity Mall. Naik made a passionate appeal to the public to sustain the agitation until the government officially scraps the project.

Environment Over Infrastructure

During his visit, Naik criticized the state government’s disconnect from the environmental values often touted by central leadership. He pointed out the irony between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public stance and the current situation in Goa.

“Last time when PM Modi was in Goa, he gave a big speech on the environment and how beautiful Goa is,” Naik remarked. “Maybe CM Sawant should listen to the speech of the PM and work towards saving Goa’s water, rivers, and lakes instead of pushing projects that threaten them.”

“Take it to Sanquelim or Porvorim”

The AAP leader questioned the government’s insistence on the Chimbel site despite fierce local opposition and significant environmental concerns. He suggested that if the BJP is confident in the project’s benefits, they should relocate it to constituencies represented by the state’s top leadership.

• Naik’s Suggestion: If the BJP believes the Unity Mall is truly a “great” project for the people, they should move it to Sanquelim (the CM’s constituency) or Porvorim.

• The Core Issue: Residents and activists argue that the project in Chimbel will lead to the destruction of local ecosystems and water bodies.

Naik concluded by reaffirming that the AAP will continue to stand with the people of Chimbel, stating that development should never come at the cost of the state’s natural heritage.