Special status demand: Goa MLA suggests mass resignation, CM rejects

Panaji, Aug 1: Goa's Independent legislator Vijay Sardesai today suggested that all the 40 MLAs in the state should resign, to press the demand for special status for the state.

Sardesai's suggestion, made on the floor of the House, was, however, outrightly rejected by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who equated it with "committing suicide". "I don't agree with what Sardesai has been saying. This is like committing suicide. I think positive. We will get the special status done," Parrikar said, responding to a Calling Attention motion moved by his party colleague Pramod Sawant on the issue.

Participating in the discussion, Sardesai said all the 40 legislators should resign "creating constitutional deadlock" so that the demand for special status is conceded by the Centre.

"Let's face the elections again. Let the election be fought on this issue," he opined. The Calling Attention motion was moved today after the Centre had earlier rejected Goa's special status request and told the Rajya Sabha that such a demand was not justifiable. Parrikar said the Centre's stand in Rajya Sabha was based on unclear proposal sent by the previous state government.

A new comprehensive proposal giving a crystal clear definition on their demand of special status would be presented to the Centre in September, he said.

"We don't want financial special status. We want special status to preserve our culture, identity and land," the chief minister said, pointing out that the state Legislative Assembly had adopted a resolution for the same in May 2013.

PTI