PANAJI
Stating that the POGO Bill did not stand the Constitutional validity, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State President Amit Palekar said it was bound to be rejected. However, he said that his party is ready to support the POGO Bill if it is drafted differently.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Wednesday, Palekar said, “When any Bill is introduced it has to stand the test of Constitutional validity. In Article 19, it is very clear that every Indian is entitled to get jobs anywhere in the country.”
“Haphazardly drafting a law on bringing a Bill which cannot withstand the Constitutional validity, then it is bound to fail,” he opined.
“I had foretold that the Bill would be rejected. Even MLA Adv Carlos Ferrera, who helped draft the Bill, has said he was not shown the final draft before the Bill was introduced,” he added.
“However, we are ready to support the POGO Bill if it is drafted differently or another Bill prepared to protect the rights of Goa and Goans,” Palekar stated while questioning the hurry in introducing the Bill.
“Why was there a hurry to introduce the Bill in the first Assembly itself? It could have been introduced in the next Assembly. But they wanted to show that they were doing something,” he said.
“We are equally concerned about Goa and Goans because of which we have demanded that 80% jobs be reserved for Goans,” Palekar said.
The AAP is willing to take a lead in drafting a similar Bill if all the 40 MLAs, party presidents and legal experts come together setting aside political affiliations, and work towards protecting the rights of Goans without thinking about the credit.
