Goa minister says he will buy land in proposed UT of Kashmir

A day after the Centre withdrew the special status of Kashmir by rendering the Article 370 inoperative, Goa Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday said he would buy land for constructing his house in Kashmir, where he intends to stay after retiring from politics.

Lobo was speaking in the Legislative Assembly during the motion congratulating the Union government for its "historic" decision on Jammu and Kashmir through which the Himalayan state has been reorganised into two Union Territories (UTs).

"I am planning to buy land in Kashmir. I want to build a house there. I will invite all my legislator friends there," the BJP MLA said.

Lobo said he would be staying in that house once he retires from politics.

"The government's move (to do away with the Article 370) has given us an opportunity to buy land in Kashmir and to work in Kashmir," he said.

With the Article 370 gone, all laws in place in the rest of the country will now become applicable in the proposed UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which include a right to buy property and seek employment.