PANJIM: The contentious issue of Special Status to Goa created division within the Congress party, with their senior leaders expressing different views, unclear as to ‘why Goa needs Special Status’.
Accusing BJP-led government for betraying Goans and committing breach of privilege, the Congress leaders have found themselves in ontradiction on the issue.
While Rajya Sabha NP Shantaram Naik is of the clear view that Goa needs special status to protect its land resource by amending article 371 of the Constitution of India, his other two seniors- party president Luizinho Faleiro and former Law Commissioner Ramakant Khalap are of the strong view that State doesn’t require Special Status to protect land but the State government itself can enact a legislation and ban the sale of agricultural land to non-Goans.
Also, on one hand where Faleiro and Khalap want Special Status for monitory assistance from Centre, Naik does not feel so. The failure of the opponents to decide why Goa needs Special Status, is further likely to help State government not to pursue the demand,
“ When asked, why Congress failed to grant Special Status to Goa despite being in power for more then a decade at Centre, Naik said “being a coalition government it was not possible’.”
