Days after Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar discounted the special status demand for the coastal state, his cabinet colleague Alina Saldanha today contradicted him saying the government will firmly pursue the matter.
Saldanha's statement came on the day when activists under the banner of Goa's Movement for Special Status (GMSS) said they will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard and place the demand before him.
GMSS said they have already secured an appointment with the PM, which is within next ten days, to discuss the issue.
Addressing reporters, Saldanha said, "I am hopeful that state and Central governments will help in getting Goa the special status."
"Incumbent chief minister Parsekar is not well-versed with the issue of special status. His statement (that special status is mirage) is his own opinion. It is not what the government feels. We are still awaiting adoption of resolution (passed in the Goa Assembly) in Parliament. State government is firm in getting special status," she said.
Parsekar had termed the special status demand as "chasing a mirage."
Pointing out that a unanimous legislation had been passed by the state Legislative Assembly for the special status on April 15, 2013, Saldanha said, "this resolution needs to be passed in Parliament."
The coastal state has been demanding special status to protect its identity, culture and also land.
Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Nitin Gadkari had spoken against the possibility of Goa getting the special status.
