TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Though other political parties are hinging their election campaign on special status to woo voters, Congress’ North Goa candidate Ravi Naik has remarked that the matter needs to be studied, as it is not an underdeveloped State.
“Goa’s per capita income and literacy rate are both high. Then why special status?… Special Status is given to certain states on the China-Nepal border because they want it. Our party has given such states preference in special status,” he said at a press briefing on Thursday.
The former home minister was thereafter corrected by journalists that the demand is to protect its identity by bringing law to bar outsiders from buying properties in the State, and not for financial benefit.
Naik’s statement was in response to a media question on his stance on long pending demand for special status for Goa, which is one of six promises made in the party’s election manifesto. Interestingly, in an earlier press conference this week, the former home minister had conceded he was not aware of Congress’ Lok Sabha election promises arguing he had not received a copy of the same.
In the concluding briefing, Naik once again admitted he was still not in receipt of the manifesto despite party Chief John Fernandes announcing that it is very much available on the party official website.
Trying to memorize the special status demand, Naik further commented such a thing might put in jeopardy poor small land holders, who want to sell their assets.
Naik who has been president of Tenants Association said, “We have to think of the small land holders. The land in the state belongs to poor people… some bhatkars (landlords) stay abroad. How can the government take decision on special status without taking them into confidence? A committee of experts should be formed for this purpose,” he demanded.
If voted to power,
Naik assured to create additional old age homes for senior citizens whose children work abroad as a
result of which the former have no support
system here.
Trying to memorize the special status demand, Naik further commented such a thing might put in jeopardy poor
small land holders, who want to sell their assets
