Panaji, 29 August: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa President Valmiki Naik has questioned the manner in which Karapur protesters were allegedly picked up and taken to Mumbai in connection with a criminal case, asking whether Goa had “merged with Maharashtra”.

Naik alleged that due procedure was not followed while taking the protesters into custody. According to him, the Goa Police were allegedly not involved in the operation and the accused were not produced before a local magistrate before being taken across the State border.

“Dr. Pramod Sawant, I know you are rattled by the courage and perseverance of the Karapur protesters. All your desperate attempts to be a broker for the builder have failed, because Goans are not purchasable commodities like BJP leaders,” Naik alleged in a strongly worded statement.

The AAP leader said that any allegations against individuals should be investigated strictly in accordance with law, but maintained that the party would oppose any attempt to intimidate or weaken the ongoing Karapur agitation.

Naik said AAP would stand firmly with the protesters and would not allow legal proceedings to be used as a means of suppressing their movement.

The statement comes amid heightened tension surrounding the prolonged Karapur protest and the recent Mumbai Police action in an alleged extortion case.