PANAJI
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was on Friday censured for failing to have the legislation granting political reservation and a quota for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa legislative assembly at the recent Parliament session.
TMC national spokesman Trajano de Mello and the party’s State president, Mariano Rodrigues addressed the media where they claimed the delay in granting the political reservation and thus representation to the STs of Goa was unfair.
De Mello and Rodrigues said, the ruling BJP fast-tracked other legislative matters in Parliament while consistently sidelining crucial bills concerning Goa, particularly the pending ST Reservation Bill.
“Even after our MPs pushed for it in the Business Advisory Committee, there has been no progress,” D’Mello said.
The TMC leaders also accused the BJP, which rules both at the Centre and in the State, of allowing Coastal Regulation Zone rules to disproportionately impact local residents.
They said, over 20,000 traditional Goan homes are now at risk while luxury hotels and resorts continue to expand with minimal resistance.
“The rules are being used to punish locals while giving a free pass to the rich,” said Rodrigues.
