Pledges to fight for special status
MARGAO, FEB 17
Promising to take up the special status for Goa in the budget session of Parliament, the Janata Dal (United) has called for a viable alternative to the Congress and the BJP in the coming Assembly polls.
Party’s national general secretary Javed Raza told newsmen that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had promised special status for Goa during her election campaign in Goa during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, but lamented that the Congress has failed to accord special status for the State till date.
“The Party demands that the UPA headed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi fulfil the demand of Goans for special status before the people come out on the streets to demand the status,” Raza warned.
Raza further urged the Goa government not to bulldoze with the highway project against the wish of the people of Goa without coming up with a rehabilitation policy for the displaced people. He demanded that the rehabilitation plan be placed before the people of Goa before taking up any work on the National highway.
Expressing concern over the changes mooted by the government to the Regional plan 2021 against the wish and sentiments of the people of Goa, Raza said that the government should stick to the aspirations of the people and not effect changes to suit the builders lobby
“The Janata Dal U will take up all these issues in the coming Assembly polls due next year. The party will come up with its manifesto for the welfare and benefit of the locals,” he said, adding that the party has been returned back to power in Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar because of the welfare projects launched by the government.
Outlining his party’s plan for Goa, Raza said the party has drawn up an ambitious membership drive and to build up the party in the nook and corner of the state.
When asked specifically whether the party will have a tie-up with the BJP on the lines of similar arrangement in Bihar, Raza said that the party will first assess the political situation in Goa before taking any decision.
JD (U) Goa unit president, Filipe Pereira said the people of Goa are looking for a third viable alternative in Goa having experienced the functioning of the government by the Congress and the BJP. “We do not forsee any tie up with the any other political party in the state”, he added.
