PANAJI
The Opposition smelt a rat in Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement on the long pending controversial issue with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao citing it as election agenda and Goa Forward Party’s President Vijai Sardesai and Revolutionary Goans Party's Manoj Parab saying these regulations are a hidden attempt to reintroduce the controversial Bhumiputra Bill.
The opposition claims CM’s proposed measure has caused significant concerns among some people of Goa, particularly those who have legally acquired their homes. There is a concern it might have negative consequences given the possible impact on their homes and legal rights.
“The announcement is nothing but an election stunt with an eye on upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Comunidade land belongs to Goans. The government must first publish the data on how many illegal houses exist with details of the owners and occupants of each house. If the government is honest, they should take all Comunidades into confidence and adopt a transparent process,” Alemao said.
His statement recalls the same BJP government’s previous announcements of regularising illegal houses wherein “hardly anything has been done till today” while Alemao further claimed that despite the huge amount collected from the applicants, cases are not cleared.
Sardesai, on the other hand, has expressed his vehement opposition to the proposed regulations to prevent the demolition of illegal houses on Comunidade land. “It’s a covert attempt to bring back the Bhumiputra Bill,” he lamented as he stated, “This move to legalize houses built on encroached land predominantly by migrants is not only an assault on Goan ethos but also an insult to those who respect, and abide by the laws of the land.” The GFP alleged that the CM’s announcement was a blatant attempt to appease a migrant vote bank at the expense of local Goemkars.
Voicing its strong opposition to the State government’s move to bring in a law to regularize illegal structures on comunidade land, the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) warned that it would launch a statewide
movement against the same.
RGP Chief Manoj Parab had informed that the move aims at protecting the vote bank of the BJP, be it at Indira Nagar-Chimbel, Zuarinagar, Lala ki Basti-Tivim, Shapur Basti, Kargil-Curtorim, and other areas. Parab
too termed the decision by the government as an attempt to bring in the Bhumipatra-2 bill.
Alemao went on to add that they are keeping a close watch on every step of the Government. “This November he made a statement on Comunidade, I am sure till next November nothing will change. In case the Government takes any step, we will see to it that every decision is in the interest of Goa and Goans,” he added.
