Panaji, Jul 24 (PTI) The ruling BJP in Goa on Thursday took exception to a video of a Congress MLA claiming the state government was indulging in “official land grab” through the Goa Escheats, Forfeiture and Bona Vacantia Bill 2024.
Moving a calling attention motion in the assembly against Congress MLA Alvares Ferreira’s video, state revenue minister Atanasio Monserratte told the House the former was trying to create fear and anxiety among people by misrepresenting the provisions of the Bill.
“The principles of Goa Escheats, Forfeiture and Bona Vacantia Bill 2024 are embedded in the Constitution, especially within Article 296. It seeks to protect lands of Goans that are lying vacant and abandoned and are at risk from illegal encroachments, fraudulent transfers and land grabbers,” Monserratte said.
The minister wanted to know the steps the state government will take to clarify and counter the false propaganda by Ferreira through a video posted on his social media page.
Ferreira countered by saying his video was based on fact and that the Bill, which was introduced in the assembly session held last year, was “completing misleading” and was “official land grab”.
Hitting back, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said his government was taking strict action against land grabbers and questioned why the Congress never did so when it was in power.
The special investigation team (SIT) formed by his government against land grabbing has filed 30 cases and arrested several persons, the CM said in the assembly. PTI RPS BNM
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.