Take up 'special status for Goa' issue with Centre:Cong to BJP

Goa Congress today asked the ruling BJP to take up the issue of granting "special status" to the state with the Centre and lashed out at the saffron party over alleged spike in intolerance in the country after it came to power at the national level.
Addressing a press conference here, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Luizinho Faleiro said the BJP, in their manifesto for the 2012 Assembly elections, had promised to take up the matter of "special status for Goa" if it came to power in the state.
Now that BJP is in power both in Goa and at the Centre, it should consider discussing the issue, he said and pledged Congress' full support to achieve the status.

Faleiro said the party will hold a meeting at Lohia Maidan in Margao on November 14 to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
He said at the meeting, an oath of tolerance will be administered to safeguard and upkeep the principles of unity, peace, compassion and brotherhood amongst our citizenry.
Ever since the BJP-led government took up the reigns of power, "the country has been witnessing increased assaults on secular tenets and fabric of our constitutional democracy through propagation of divisive ideals founded on the bedrock of intolerance, vengeance, hatred and vendetta," Faleiro said.

These perilous times have invoked the intervention of the President of India, who has made fervent pleas to preserve the country's secular tenets, pluralistic and inclusive ideals, the Congress leader said.

Eminent personalties from different walks of life have also made a strong plea to maintain the democratic ideals of our country, he said.
"This culture of intolerance, hatred, vendetta and vengeance needs to be stopped and nipped in the bud in the interest of preserving our country's inclusive ideals," he added.