Govt deliberately blocked key Private Member Bills: AAP

MARGAO

The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday exposed how the BJP government blocked the introduction of crucial Private Members’ Bills in the Goa Legislative Assembly stating that the democratic process was deliberately undermined to prevent discussion on issues affecting the people of Goa.

AAP leaders pointed out that the party’s MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva have consistently raised issues in the Assembly that directly impact the identity, environment and livelihoods of the people of Goa. They stated that the BJP government feared the strong and principled opposition put forward by AAP, and therefore ensured that these important bills were not even allowed to be introduced in the House.

AAP Senior Vice President Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai said the events in the Assembly exposed the government’s true intentions. “By blocking these bills, the BJP government has clearly shown that it fears any legislation that seeks to protect Goa’s land and natural resources from powerful interests. These bills were meant to safeguard Goa’s agricultural fields, ecology and traditional livelihoods, but the government chose to silence the discussion itself,” he said. 

AAP Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik stated that the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill, 2026 was jointly brought forward by Opposition MLAs including AAP MLAs Cruz Silva and Venzy Viegas in response to strong public sentiment against large-scale land conversions and the widespread protests against Section 39A. 

AAP leader Roque Mascarenhas said that MLA Capt. Venzy Viegas had presented three important bills addressing key public concerns — the Goa Public Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Goa, Daman and Diu Irrigation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Goa Maritime Board Act Bill, 2026. These bills aimed to address growing concerns about the expansion of casino gambling, severe pollution in Goa’s creeks including the black water reported in Colva Creek, and the unregulated expansion of port jurisdiction that threatens the traditional rights of fishermen and local communities who depend on these waterways for their livelihoods.

AAP South Goa Youth Wing President Neash Coutinho said that Goa’s rivers and streams are getting polluted due to industrial and medical waste, yet the government did not even allow the Irrigation Amendment Bill meant to protect them to be presented and Instead of addressing these serious environmental concerns, the government continues to ignore the destruction of forests and rising human–wildlife issues.