TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A day after the government clarified that it is still undecided on the kind of Special Status that Goa needs, the opposition Congress on Wednesday demanded special category status for the State for getting financial assistance from the Centre and also to protect its unique culture and identity.
The party, however, maintained that the scarce land resource can be protected by the State itself by enacting legislation banning or restricting sale of land.
Addressing the media, State Congress President Luizinho Faleiro said that the Congress executive committee that met Wednesday morning has resolved to pursue with the demand of special status for Goa, for devolution of central financial assistance.
“Goa has lost the benefit of financial assistance from the Centre, for the past several years. At this stage the need for special status is of utmost importance, when Goa’s economy is going through the pangs of a financial and economic meltdown. At present Goa survives on 80 to 90 percent loans,” Faleiro said, adding that Central grants are only 10 to 20 percent.
On the 51st death anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Faleiro recalled that the iconic Congress leader was a great friend of Goa and Goans. “He has always said Goans have a distinct identity and culture and it should be protected,” he said.
“If we had to demand or ask at that time for special category status, Goans would have easily got it. But at that time the agenda of our senior leaders was different,” Faleiro said referring to the then ruling Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party that had sought to merge Goa with Maharashtra.
The former chief minister said that special status is required to protect the State’s unique identity and culture. “As far as protection of land is concerned, the State government has the power to enact legislation and protect the land,” he said and pointed out that during his tenure as chief minister his cabinet had resolved to seek special status for Goa and had forwarded this to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The State Legislative Assembly under then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had unanimously resolved to recommend to the Union Government the grant of special status for Goa under Section 371 of the Constitution or any other provisions of the Constitution for regulating ownership and transfer of land in order to conserve the limited resources for development. Accordingly a proposal was sent, which was turned down by the Central government.
