PANJIM: With nearly a year left for the next State Assembly elections, the Congress on Thursday pledged to make Goa “BJP mukta (free)” state in the ensuing New Year.
Addressing a press conference, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson Adv Yatish Naik said that in the coming New Year 2016, the party would go more aggressive targeting the BJP-led government for its frequent U-turns on the crucial 2012 election promises including scrapping of Regional Plan 2021 and granting of Special Status to Goa for protection of its land resource and identity.
“We are committed to make Goa BJP Mukta (free) in 2016,” he said adding, “people are fed up with BJP’s historical U-turns on its every election promises, which gave them the mandate to form the State government.”
“People now feel betrayed by the BJP…,” Naik said. The Congress party has also announced to come out on street in more regressive way, reaching out to people to expose government U-turns.
Meanwhile, on Thursday the Congress petitioned Governor Mridula Sinha, seeking her intervention in the assurance made on the Floor of the House to de-notify the RP21 and formulate a new plan in consultation with all stakeholders.
The party has pointed out that the then Governor K Sankaranaryanan while addressing the first session of the State Legislative Assembly on March 20, 2012 had announced that the government would de-notify RP21 and formulate a new plan. He had even said that the government firmly believes in grassroots planning and participation of the people in all development activities of the State.
“It may be noted that this speech was voted and adopted by the House. Thus the declarations made in the speech assumed utmost sanctity. Hence, being the Constitutional head of the State, Congress party requests your intervention in the matter directing Government to do the needful for the sake of preserving legislative sanctity,” the petition reads.
The Congress has reiterated the demand to de-notify the RP21 and initiate a fresh process to draft a new land plan in public consultation, keeping 2001 RP as its base plan.
