Congress slams BJP Govt for politicising the Carnival celebrations by banning Coconut Tree theme floats. --The Banning of Coconut Theme Floats is a suppression freedom of Speech and is intolerant and unsecular in nature --Lauds Parleamentary Committees statement that Investment Promotion Board is a violation of Article 14
The BJP Government is working against the Constitution of India. This was proven yesterday in two separate events. Firstly, during the meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment and Forest headed by Congress Raj Sabha Leader and Committee Chairman Ashwani Kumar, the committee emphasised that the Investment Promotion Board is a violation of Article 14, the Right to Equality before Law. These Investment Promotion Areas create lawless States within Goa where State laws such as Land Revenue Code cease to exists. We cannot allow the government to selectively apply or revoke State laws at their whims and fancies. This is a fact that has been echoed by Goans across the State but has fallen on deaf years. The GPCC warns any private entity planning against investing in such areas marked as investment zone and to follow the law of the land. These private entities should remember that this Government has just one year remaining and a new government has ever right to revoke an unconstitutional laws. Any Congress led government will revoke this draconian Act. Thus any industry which wants to avoid future road blocks should avoid the Investment Promotion Board and follow the traditional route adopted by other industries operating in Goa. The GPCC makes a commitment to all industries that we will stream line these procedures, make them time bound and to make it efficient and economically friendly to start industries in Goa without violating the Constitution of India In the second event, the BJP led government is violated the Article 19 of the Constitution when the Carnival committee stopped Coconut tree floats during the Panjim Carnival. This government intolerant towards people who criticize them or their policies. The Carnival Parade has always been a platform for Goans to creatively present and express their culture and opinion, whether it is showcasing the endangered art of jaggery making, the immense popularity of FC Goa or the anguish against discrimination against the much loved coconut tree. The GPCC questions the government stand on opposing and disqualifying the coconut tree floats. The BJP should stop ruling this State like a dictatorship. The GPCC also demands that the recent amendment be withdrawn and the Coconut tree be restored under the definition of a tree under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act. -Avinash Tavares Congress Spokesperson
