PANAJI: Villagers in Anjuna held a silent protest outside St Michael's Church today morning against the electronic dance music (EDM) events and other noisy gatherings, which have been disrupting their daily lives.
Local resident Ignacio Fernandes said the peaceful and non-violent protest is a straight message to the authorities that villagers are against such events. “We are simply holding banners to express our concerns. These banners clearly show our message: 'No to EDM.' As villagers, we have a right to voice our opinions,” he said.
Fernandes stated that they submitted memorandum to Anjuna panchayat and the local community leaders, urging them to not allow such events while citing Article 19 of the Indian Constitution that protects the right to freedom of expression. “We must speak up against events that are damaging to Goa,” he added.
Furthermore, protesters reiterated their commitment to preserving the legacy of Anjuna. “We do not want to be remembered as the ones who allowed this noise to continue,” another villager stated. “We are standing together as a community today.”
The villagers encouraged others who care about this issue to join their cause. “If you are part of the Anjuna community or have a say in these events, please speak up. Now is the time to act,” they urged.
