PANJIM: The Congress party on Saturday remained non-committal on granting Special Status to Goa, a long pending demand of the locals, in a bid to protect its limited land resources.
Addressing media persons, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Manifesto Committee convenor Rajeev Gowada said that the issue needs to be examined on merit.
“We had granted special status to Telangana as it was something that we had promised to them at the time of its bifurcation with Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
“We would have to examine the demand of people of Goa further and consider the demand on its merit,” the Rajya Sabha member said.
The Congress leader however took a dig at the Narendra Modi-led government stating that the present government is opposed to granting Special Status to anybody. “But we have not taken any such stand. So, we will consider the demand on its merit,” Gowada said responding to a question.
During Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Goa last month, he had assured to consider granting special status to Goa to protect its land resource. The assurance had come following request from non-government organizations that had met him with a request to include various demands in the party’s Lok Sabha election manifesto.
Modi too, during his poll rally in 2014, had assured to grant special status to Goa. The State Legislative Assembly had also passed a unanimous resolution in this regard.
However, no step has been initiated in that direction till date.
Meanwhile, responding to yet another question on whether the party supports auction of iron ore leases to resume mining industry, Gowada said, “Supreme Court is of the view that the natural resources has to be auctioned. Hence, it is one of the other alternatives, which needs to be examined in thorough”.
The Congress party in its State election manifesto has assured to resume sustainable mining in the State.
Gowada on Saturday released Konkani version of AICC manifesto for Lok Sabha polls.
