Goa’s politicians were at work in Parliament on Friday, moving bills to protect land and legalize bullfights in Goa. Shantaram Naik introduced a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking to add article 371 (I) to the Indian Constitution. The bill seeks to authorize the Goa legislative assembly to enact legislation to regulate ownership and transfer of land in the state. The bill also seeks to authorize the state legislature to enact legislation to regulate the influx of migrants taking into consideration the available resources, specially land, water, power, sanitation and environmental concerns.
Arguing that this wouldn’t curtail a person’s fundamental right under article 19 of the Constitution to move freely throughout the country, Naik said it is also the fundamental right of others to live a decent life with basic amenities. 
“In order to safeguard the basic rights of Goans as also non-Goans settled in Goa, further inflow has to be regulated to avoid a virtual stampede in future,” Naik said. In the statement of objects and reasons annexed to the bill, Naik stated, “Land is becoming a scarce commodity particularly in small states. Land mafias from foreign countries are landing in states like Goa with tons of money, buying huge areas and creating social and economic chaos.”
Naik further stated that existing constitutional rights should not be so unfettered so as to change the economic scenario of smaller states, particularly its villages, to the state’s and people’s disadvantage. “Anti-social elements which become a part of such uncontrolled transactions are proving disastrous for a state like Goa. Therefore, states have to be empowered to enact appropriate legislation to bring in restrictions on transfer of land and other immovable properties,” he said.
In the Lok Sabha, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha introduced a bill to amend the law on prevention of cruelty to animals by removing restrictions on bullfights. This had been one of Sardinha’s election promises.
Courtesy: TOI
