TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Congress party trumped Special Status for Goa among six issues flagged by it, saying people rushing to own a piece of Goa is posing a threat to its identity, while releasing the Indian National Congress’ manifesto, which emphasises Goa-centric issues, on Saturday.
It assured to solve the dual citizenship, enforcing of tighter laws to cleanse drug menace, ensuring legal and controlled mining, eliminating corruption from all sectors, improving law and order; and implementing students-parents-teachers friendly education policy are the other promises of the party if voted to power in the Lok Sabha polls.
Goa Congress chief John Fernandes released the manifesto in the presence of central observer Siddharth Patil and other leaders at Congress House in Panjim. The 48-page manifesto titled ‘Your Voice Our Pledge’ with AICC President Sonia Gandhi, AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh photos on its cover page has six Goa specific promises.
The demand for Special Status, which was ironically highlighted during the last Parliamentary polls is the first issue raised in the manifesto. “Goa being a small and beautiful State, there is a mad rush, both nationally and internationally, for people to own a piece of this beautiful land. This has given rise to change of demography over a period of time and Goans, which is close to neat society due to its historic ethnicity, is fast decaying in its moral values, thus posing a danger to its unique identity, which is a main asset for international tourists to make a beeline to Goa…” it says.
“…Both national and international land sharks and mafias are involved in a big way in depleting the scarce land. Hence people feel their unique identity must be retained for posterity at least by putting an end to huge transfer of land to non-Goans…” There is a need to protect the land and identity of Dhangars, Gaonkars and Velips, he said.
On the issue of dual Portuguese nationality, the party accused the BJP of trying to capitalise on the issue assuring that its PM candidate Narendra Modi will amend the constitution. The manifesto explains that Congress will solve the issue by mere executive order under Citizenship Act by issuing special overseas citizenship of India by retrospective effect without amending the constitution.
Mentioning about rampant drug menace in the State, Fernandes explained that Congress will bring coordination between the law enforcement agencies and enforce stringent laws, which is lacking under the BJP-led coalition. The manifesto alleged that Goa has turned into an international drug centre owing to its proximity of the Golden Triangle across the North Western International border.
On the mining front, it assures to promote the activity for more domestic consumption as exporting of mined products, it says, leads to pilferage of revenue from the country ‘as often underhand rates are quoted in connivance with foreign buyers to dodge government taxes.’
Improving law and order, eradicating corruption from grassroots level of the government are some other Congress assurances. Claiming that students are the most harassed sections in the society, the party has promised to implement students-parents-teachers friendly policy to ease the hardships faced by them.
