TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: While thanking Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar for moving the resolution on Special Status in the Assembly to regulate land use and preserve tiny Goa’s unique identify, the Goa’s Movement for Special Status (GMFSS) on Tuesday disclosed plans to start public meetings across South Goa in May.
GMFSS president Prajal Sakhardande and general secretary John Lobo said the meetings will sensitise and inform locals about the urgent need to push for Special Status for Goa. The first of these meetings will be held at panchayat ground in Carmona on May 4 at 3 pm followed by another meeting at Dando Grounds, Benaulim at 5.30 pm on the same day.
GMFSS has requested the people of the respective South Goa villages to take these meetings very seriously and send a strong message both to the Central as well as the State governments that Goans are very serious about their demand for a Special Status under Article 371 of the Constitution in order to conserve and preserve Goa’s scarce land resources, its environment and its unique identity.
GMFSS also thanked all the MLAs who magnanimously transcended their varying political affiliations to display exemplary unity in wholeheartedly endorsing and unanimously passing this resolution that carries such special significance for Goa and Goans.
“All the MLAs will earn the undying gratitude and blessings of Goa’s future generations, who will be the beneficiaries of this move which will help Goans as a community to preserve their unique identity, culture, scarce land resources and environment and ensure that the sons and daughters of the soil can aspire to have a corner of land that they can call their own. For too long now, there has been no impediment or road block to arrest the process of Goa being sold to the highest bidder. This has culminated into the present crisis wherein Goans are being brazenly elbowed out and marginalised in their own homeland”, GMFSS said.
GMFSS, however, cautioned that although this is undoubtedly a significant milestone in the State’s long journey to attain Special Status, the real challenge still lies ahead in getting Special Status for Goa passed in Parliament.
Saying that Goans now look forward to all out efforts from their MLAs, especially those hailing from the major national parties, in convincing their counterparts in Delhi to support us in realising this long cherished dream.
GMFSS assured them that they will enjoy the unstinting support and backing of the people of Goa in this worthy endeavour.
