PANAJI: In a bid to clear the air over Goa’s ‘special status,’ the Congress party’s chief spokesperson for Goa, Mr Shantaram Naik, said that, there was in fact, no provision for special status for any state in the Constitution of India.

"However," he added, "a special provision exists under Article 371, which Goa enjoys."

He added that "the state does enjoy the benefit of special financial package which it receives from time to time, whenever there is the need, as witnessed recently, for Liberation day celebrations, etc."

Mr Naik, explained that that what Goa needed was an amendment to Article 371 of the Constitution which would empower it to enact a law that gives it the right to refuse transfer of land to non residents or foreigners.

"Such an amendment," Mr Naik said, was "being pursued by the Congress party representatives in the cabinet."

Mr Naik was speaking at a media briefing, in Panaji, called in response to the BJP party president, Mr Nitin Gadkari, speech wherein he had said, "The Congress government is fooling Goans on the special status issue."

Reacting to Mr Gadkari’s statement, Mr Naik said that "The BJP party president has no right to say anything, about a senior statesman of the Congress, as he was a leader who was forced among his party men by the RSS and hence very unpopular." Mr Naik’s criticism also extended to Ms Shushma Swaraj of the BJP who he said was "a protégée of the mining lobby in Karnataka."

Mr Naik, added that the Congress has always looked out for the interest of Goans, and any controversy over "special status" would not cost it any votes.