CM draws flak over foreigners owning business in Goa

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was today cornered by Oppositionin the state Assembly for allegedly allowing foreigners to purchase agricultural lands and own businesses like night clubs, which they claimed to be in violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Legislators, including BJP MLA Michael Lobo, Leader of Opposition Pratapsinh Rane, Congress member Digambar Kamat, Goa Vikas party's Fransisco Miccky Pacheco and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai criticised the Chief Minister for allowing violation of FEMA.
Lobo, during the Question Hour, claimed that a German national was allowed to purchase an agricultural property at Arpora village in north Goa and was also granted excise licence by Excise department, headed by Parsekar.

The BJP MLA claimed that the excise licence given to the foreigner, who also owns a night club, was in violation of norms of FEMA.
Responding to Lobo, Parsekar said that the foreign national concerned was Person of India Origin (PIO) card-holder.
He, however, did not clarify how agricultural lands were allowed to be purchased by foreigners, which evoked sharp reaction from the Opposition benches.

Trying to calm them down, Parsekar said the government was contemplating to amend the State Excise Act by making 25 year domicile compulsory for the grant of licences.
He said three foreign nationals were granted excise licence in the state and that it would be reviewed.

"Let us take opinion from the Law department on the licences allotted to foreigners," he said.
The Chief Minister admitted that several foreigners were running businesses in the coastal belt by getting the restaurants sublet with the help of locals.
"There are few Goans who sublet their premises to foreigners. The original licence owner is Goan but business is run by a foreigner, which is illegal. I appeal Goans not to allow such illegalities," Parsekar, who represents Mandrem constituency, said.