Margao: Aam Aadmi Party leaders in Goa on Saturday accused the BJP-led state government of blocking the introduction of key Private Members’ Bills in the Legislative Assembly to prevent discussion on issues related to land protection, the environment, and livelihoods.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa Senior Vice President Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai, Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik, ST leader Rajesh Gaonkar, Vice President Roque Mascarenhas, and Youth leader Neash Coutinho alleged that the democratic process in the Assembly was deliberately undermined to stop debate on matters affecting the people of the state.
Opposition benches had protested inside the House on Friday during the ongoing Budget session after Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar refused to table the Private Members’ Bills submitted by them.
On Saturday, AAP leaders said their MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva had consistently raised issues concerning Goa’s identity, environment, and traditional livelihoods in the Assembly, but the government ensured that the Private Members’ Bills moved by them were not even allowed to be introduced.
Teleikar-Dessai said the developments in the Assembly reflected the government’s true intentions. He alleged that the BJP government feared legislation that sought 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.
Teleikar-Dessai also alleged that unchecked land conversions, expansion of casino gambling, and commercial control over rivers and coastlines were benefiting a powerful nexus that funds the BJP’s political machinery.
AAP Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik said the proposed Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill, 2026 was brought forward jointly by opposition MLAs, including Viegas and Silva, in response to public sentiment against large-scale land conversions and protests against Section 39A.
The bill sought to ensure protection of agricultural lands and eco-sensitive zones, he said, adding that the government blocked its introduction to avoid public scrutiny.
Private Members’ Day was clearly hijacked to stop discussion on issues that expose the BJP government’s anti-people policies, Naik alleged.
AAP leader Roque Mascarenhas said Viegas had also sought to introduce the Goa Public Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Goa, Daman and Diu Irrigation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Goa Maritime Board Act Bill, 2026, which addressed concerns over the expansion of casino gambling, pollution in creeks, and the expansion of port jurisdiction affecting traditional fishing communities.
Youth leader Neash Coutinho alleged that rivers and streams in Goa were increasingly getting polluted due to industrial and medical waste, but the government did not allow the irrigation amendment bill meant to protect them to be presented in the House.
AAP leaders further claimed that the government was prioritising political funding and financial interests over the welfare of the people by allowing continued land conversions, casino expansion, and commercial control over natural resources.
The party reiterated that it would continue to raise issues concerning the protection of Goa’s land, rivers, environment, and identity, and expose policies that it claims threaten the future of the state.
