28th Feb.2012
KEY POINTS MADE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY SHRI SHANTARAM NAIK MP,
Secretary AICC and Chief Spokespeson of Goa PCC
Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. ,Chief Spokesperson of Goa Pradesh Congress
Committee said, while addressing a press conference at Congress House
Panaji on Tuesday that Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee did not
say a word as regards special provisions under article 371 of the
Constitution (popularly known as Special status), which is Goa’s basic
demand, during his press conference in Panaji on Monday.
Mr Naik said that media asked questions regarding special status and Mr
Mukherjee answered the same in the context of Special Category which is
a separate demand of Goans under which by Executive Order States are
included in the List of Special Category, which entitles them special
grants, additional funds , special schemes etc.
There are 11 states which enjoy the status of Special Category, namely,
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura,
Mizoram, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarachal.
Mr Mukerjee has that Central Government is meeting Goa’s demand of
additional finances by way of separate packages etc and, at present
National Advisory Council, which decides which states to be included in
Special Category has decided not to include any more States in that
category.
Goa’s key demand is for a Constitutional amendment under article 371 of
the Constition of India to empower Goa Assembly , to enact a
legislation ( which Goa Assembly cannot do without being empowered by
Constitutional Amendment) to bring in restrictions on transfer of land
and other immoveable properties on grounds of duration of residential
requirement in the State, social and economic needs of the State,
environment and public interest, as may be specified by the law.
Land is becoming a scarce commodity more particularly in smaller States.
Land mafia from foreign countries are landing in States like Goa with
tons of money buying huge areas creating social and economic chaos. Some
of the parties are potential enough to buy a whole village in a smaller
State like Goa, Mr Naik said .
Persons in real estate in the country too, are resorting to similar
purchases disturbing the social fabric in the State, he added
Rights existing under the constitution should not be so unfettered so as
to change economic scenario of a smaller State, particularly its
villages, much to the disadvantage of the State and its people.
Anti-social elements which become a part of such uncontrolled
transactions are proving disastrous for a State like Goa, Mr Naik said.
The reason as to why we are insisting on a constitutional backing is
that the State Assembly, had, in the year 2008, enacted a legislation
to amend to Registration Act to authorize State Government to frame
Rules, providing for issuing direction to the sub-registrars, to
refuse registration of certain documents, declared by the government
as being opposed to public policy.
President of India has refused to give assent to the bill of the Goa
government which the Governor of Goa had reserved for the consideration
of the President. A similar bill passed by the Assembly of another State
,it is learnt, was struck down by the Supreme Court.
It is , in these circumstances, that Goa has demanded amendment to
article 371 of the Constitution so that in a few years time we do not
come across a village called Russian Village or Israel Village in Goa.
But media did not ask a question on this aspect or rather media had in
mind this very issue but t the Finance Minister took is as a demand to
include Goa in Special Category which demand comes only next to Special
Provision demand, Mr Naik said.
Mr Naik said that he has been time again mentioning in his press
conferences that there is no provision for “special status” in the
constitution , and that what it contains is special provisions under
article 371. Some people call “ Special Category” as special status and,
some refer to” special provision s under article 371” as special status.
VELIM INCIDENT
Mr Naik said that it was unbecoming of Goa police personnel to go and
knock at the doors of the Parish Priest of Velim at 9 p.m , and
therefore, police have to issue a clarifying statement on this incident.
Mr Naik said that even Chief Electoral Officer has said that the police
have to explain their conduct.
Secondly, if the police are deemed to be on deputation to the Election
Commission then the Commission has to direct the highest authority of
Police in Goa to take appropriate action.
Mr Naik said that since Code of Conduct is in operation , Goa Government
cannot take any action in this regard.
Mr Naik also questioned the action of the police and asked as to how an
FIR could be lodged against the priest, when police themselves have
stated that the priest was trying to pacify the crowd.
In fact , FIR is not such a sacrosanct document that a name which has
been erroneously included without any basis cannot be deleted
immediately, Mr Naik said. The police need not wait for any further
procedure for the purpose, he said.
ON NITIN GADKARI
Refering to Shri Nitin Gadkari’s criticism of Congress in Goa, Mr Naik
said that Mr Gadkari is on deputation from RSS to BJP, and when his
appointment was made there was an internal revolt in BJP.
Mr Naik said that Mr Gadkari’s ticket for Lok Sabha has not been cleared
by any BJP Committee but that it is RSS which have decided whether
Gadkari should contest or not.
An extra-constitutional authority should decide about the ticket of a
BJP’s National President, and that President, should give lectures to
other political parties, is strange.
RELEASED FROM THE OFFICE OF GPCC
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