Dona Paula: The MLAs from the opposition parties led by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Thursday met Goa Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju urging him to call for a special session to discuss controversial section 39A of Town and Country Planning Act.
The MLAs including Alemao, Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva (both from AAP) were part of the delegation that met Governor at Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan), Dona Paula. “We met the Governor and told him that the matter about 39A should be discussed and debated considering the emergency situation,” Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao told reporters outside the Lok Bhavan.
Alemao said that the Governor exercises the powers to convene or summon the session, although the session is on march 6. Governor has summoned 16-day-long Budget session of the Assembly from March 6 onwards.
Alemao said that with the deteriorating health of our MLA Viresh Borkar,there is urgent need to discuss the issue about scrapping section 39A of TCP. He said that former chief justice Ferdin Rebello has drafted a Bill to save the lands of Goa by scrapping various sections of the TCP.
Alemao said that Rebello is in touch with the opposition MLAs over the proposed Bill.
“We have told the Governor that this Bill is important when it comes to certain land conversions that is happening in large-scale,” he said. Alemao said that they told the Governor that this issue is very sensitive, there could be a law and order situation.
“Today, a lot of people are receiving threats that cases would be filed. This is anti democratic we are protesting peacefully,” he said.
The LoP said that the need of the hour is to make sure that Borkar, he is on hunger strike,. There can be organ failure and catastrophic impact on his health.
RGP MLA Viresh Borkar is on a fast unto death demanding repealing of section 39A of the TCP. He has been protesting since last six days at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
“We urged the Governor to resolve the issue,” Alemao said.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that we cannot wait till March 6. “We have asked emergency assembly session to be held. The Governor heard us and expressed the concern. He has said that the life of a person is very important,” he said.
“A person should not be allowed to die for the issue of public concern,” Viegas added.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Sunil Kawthankar, who was part of the delegation, said that if anyone tries to threaten Goans then they will not be afraid.
“Goans have fought Portuguese Salazar rule. We won’t back out, even if they file the cases or fire bullets on us,” he said.
