TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The simmering divisions within the Congress party on the implementation of Regional Plan 2021 were evident, when on Tuesday the party demanded that government should fulfill its promise of de-notifying the plan by drafting a fresh plan for the State, while a day before Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane had urged the government to implement the existing land plan.
The open bytes to the media, make it clear that the party lacks consensus on the issue as admitted by party spokesman Agnelo Fernandes. “I would like to agree with you,” Fernandes told presspersons, when questioned about the failure of the party to arrive at a consensus on implementation of RP21.
The Congress party has now decided to call for an executive committee meeting to ensure that there is proper coordination among the members, while targeting the BJP-government. “We will be meeting soon to discuss various issues. The RP would also be discussed and then the party’s actual stand will be made clear,” Congress spokesperson Sunil Khawthankar said.
Newly appointed party spokesperson Yatish Naik in a January 10 press conference had launched a scathing attack on the government for its unfulfilled promises on RP, and demanded that the plan be de-notified. He had also demanded that a fresh plan be drafted on the lines of the plan prepared by the then task force.
Just 24 hours earlier Rane told the media that the government should go ahead with the existing plan and implement the same in case of 175 village panchayats which have not raised any objections. “I have no idea what Congress has said but this is my view,” he had said on Monday.
On Tuesday, Congress reiterated its demand that BJP-government should de-notify the plan and draft a fresh plan in consultation with all stakeholders.
The Opposition divide on the issue, may give the government some a leeway, as it is yet to take any decision on the implementation of the plan.
Meanwhile, Congress has demanded that Environment Minister Alina Saldanha intervene in the ongoing controversy related to the Golf Course Eco Resort project of the Leading Hotels Ltd proposed at Tiracol.
