TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Issues such as granting of Special Status to Goa under Article 371 of the Constitution, solution to contentious issues such as mining and Portuguese citizenship have been flagged by the BJP in its manifesto, which is likely to be released on April 4.
The manifesto committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza has already drafted the manifesto that assures special status to Goa for protection of land resources and its identity. Resumption of legal mining and a financial package for rehabilitation of the mining ban affected people is also one of the highlighted promise of the party. The document also focuses on reforms and good governance.
A senior party official confirmed that if the BJP comes to power at the Centre, Goans embroiled in the Portuguese citizenship issue and people affected by mining ban can expect relief as the BJP leadership is capable of getting the issues resolved.
Apart from this, the manifesto also speaks about construction of Mopa airport and improving the facilities at the existing Dabolim airport. A new Zuari bridge is also on the agenda. Boost to tourism, implementation of central schemes and broad- gauge railway are some of the other highlights of the manifesto. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Shripad Naik in North and Narendra Sawaikar in South Goa, for the April 12 Parliamentary polls.
