TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The demand for Special Status for Goa under Section 371 of the Constitution of India would be discussed at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national office bearers meeting scheduled for June 7 in Goa, along with the strategy for the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Speaking to media persons, BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar said that the state unit would be raising the Special Status issue before the national office bearers, demanding that the issue be taken up by them at the Centre.
“The demand would be made to press for Special Status for Goa in parliament,” he said. Around 170 national and state office bearers would be attending the meeting. The BJP national executive meeting will be held on June 8 and 9.
Meanwhile, national executive member and Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters that the national executive meeting would be followed by a party workers convention on June 9 evening. He said that the convention would be addressed by BJP National President Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in parliament Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Briefing about meeting, Parsekar said that it holds utmost importance considering the fact that not even a year is left for Lok Sabha polls and political strategies would be worked out during the meeting.
Parsekar said that there could be some truth in the media speculation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“There may be some truth in what the media has been speculating,” Parsekar said with a smile, when asked whether Modi would be appointed as campaign in-charge during the national executive meet and later announced as the party’s PM candidate.
Parsekar, however, added that though the national executive meeting will not declare the prime ministerial candidate, the discussion would be held nonetheless.
“The decision has to be taken by the parliamentary board. The meeting will discuss on the issue considering the fact that Lok Sabha elections are fast approaching,” Parsekar said.
The health minister also said that Modi would be addressing state workers’ convention at Taleigao on June 9, where he is invited by public demand. “The workers are curious to hear Modi speak. They were asking us when will we be able to hear Modi speak? He will address the workers’ convention,” he said.
“The meeting will focus towards development of the nation,” Parsekar added.
On Monday, BJP constituted a 27-member reception committee headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrrikar to welcome the 350 delegates who would be attending the national executive.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar said that Parrikar would be meeting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh this week with the demand for Special Status and a financial package for people affected by the mining ban.
“There has been no confirmation as yet from the Prime Minister Office, but the chief minister would be heading towards Delhi either on June 4 evening or on 5th morning,” he said.
The state legislative Assembly had recently unanimously passed a resolution for Special Status for Goa under Section 371 of Constitution of India or any other provisions of Constitution to preserve and conserve the limited land resources for development. It also stressed on preserving the unique identity of Goa.
Modi would be addressing the state workers’ convention at Taleigao on June 9, where he is invited by public demand, says Parsekar
