Latest news with #GoaForwardParty
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Allow a 30-minute discussion on TCP Act's Sec 39: GFP to speaker
Porvorim: Following the town and country planning department's refusal to respond to legislative assembly questions (LAQ) related to land conversions, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) approached speaker Ramesh Tawadkar seeking a 30-minute discussion on Section 39A of the TCP Act. GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai's request followed Tawadkar's decision to adjourn the House for 10 minutes because of the protest by the opposition MLA in the legislative assembly. The opposition MLAs were protesting against the TCP department's move to deny replies, claiming that the matter is sub judice. Rane provided a standard reply to several LAQs, claiming that 'the subject matter is sub judice under Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly' and thus the LAQ could not be responded to.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
3-month jail if you keep ‘ferocious' animal as pet: Goa passes bill, CM citing Rottweilers and Pitbull dog breeds
Citing cases of Rottweiler and Pitbull dogs biting children, the Goa assembly has passed a legislation that gives the government powers to declare any such breed ferocious, and lists three months of prison if someone violates rules that prohibit the breeding and domestication of such animals. There is also provision for compensation to people injured or the families of those killed by such animals.(Representative image/Pexels) When the Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Bill, 2025, was introduced, Opposition members, including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai and Congress legislator Carlos Alvares Ferreira, demanded a detailed discussion. But Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended the move and said it was brought keeping in mind the safety of people. Passed by the House on Wednesday, the bill empowers the state government to declare any breed or class of animals as ferocious through a notification in the official gazette. Once notified, the breeding, keeping or importing of such animals in the state will be strictly prohibited, PTI reported. It mandates that owners of such animals report them to the Directorate of Animal Husbandry within 30 days of such a notification and sterilise the animal within 60 days. Violations would attract a minimum imprisonment of 15 days, which may extend up to three months, along with a fine of ₹50,000 and compulsory community service, says the bill which will become law once the governor signs it. In certain cases, courts may allow community service in lieu of jail term, it says. There is also provision for compensation to people injured or the families of those killed by such animals. Claims can be filed within six months of the incident and must be resolved by the competent authority within three months, the PTI report said. The Director of Animal Husbandry will keep a register of such ferocious animals. In 2024, the central government imposed a ban on the import, sale, and breeding of 23 'ferocious' dog breeds, including Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Russian Shepherd, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiffs, Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf dogs, Canario, Akbash dog, Moscow Guard dog, and Cane Corso, which are considered to be a 'threat to human life'.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM says love jihad cases in Goa, state needs anti-conversion law
Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said in the assembly that it is time Goa also brought in anti-conversion laws like Uttar Pradesh to curb cases of 'love jihad'. Sawant said many cases of love jihad were reported earlier in Goa too and he will release the numbers soon. His statement was, however, opposed by Goa Forward Party's Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who said the CM is trying to push his party's national agenda in Goa. 'We need to bring in the anti-conversion law and all of you from Congress need to support it. Love jihad cases came to light in Goa too earlier. When we spoke about it, at that time you all said there is no such thing as love jihad. There are cases in Goa, I will put up the figures soon,' said Sawant. The CM's remarks came after the opposition criticised govt for Goa police being unable to track the movements of alleged accused Ayesha, who was recently arrested by Uttar Pradesh police in an anti-conversion case. 'There are no cases of love jihad in Goa. He should give the number of such cases. We are diverting from the issue of a transnational network which also saw activities from Goa. No Goans live in Aldeia de Goa (gated complex where accused Ayesha's parents rented a flat) and nobody knows what the residents there are up to,' said Sardesai. Sawant said that the anti-conversion law is only against forcefully done conversions and will not in any way interfere with willing inter-religious marriages. 'But conversion should not take place by offering lures like money, etc,' said the CM.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Agents collect ₹1 lakh bribes for rent-a-cab licences: Sardesai
Panaji: In a serious accusation against the transport department, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Saturday alleged that agents have been collecting Rs 1 lakh for rent-a-cab licences, which is then passed to transport minister Mauvin Godinho's personal assistant. Sardesai said the transport department's sudden halt on rent-a-cab licences is a govt move to pre-empt scam revelations in the monsoon assembly session. 'The department has appointed agents at Margao, Panaji, and Vasco, and they are taking Rs 1 lakh in cash from each applicant for rent-a-cab licences. And this money was given to the transport minister's PA. I demand that the minister should be sacked. The agents are now refusing to return the money,' said Sardesai. 'One agent from Margao has taken money from 250 to 300 people... that is Rs 3 crore. Some vehicles have arrived and owners are paying premiums, but they have not received the letter from the transport department, so they can't get their cars. The agents claim that some of the money was given to the minister, and the minister says he is going to make a movie on Ram Mandir,' said Sardesai. He said even the BJP state president, Damu Naik, has been speaking against the transport department's policies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health: the best shoes to walk and stand all day Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo Responding to questions about the fissures between Congress and GFP, Sardesai said both parties could have prepared better for the monsoon session. 'Complete coordination did not happen, and I cannot say what will happen on the floor of the house, but we would like to work together so that we can highlight people's concerns as much as possible,' said Sardesai.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GFP: Govt is ignoring plight of farmers
Panaji: Goa Forward Party (GFP) has accused BJP-led govt of ignoring the plight of ordinary citizens, particularly farmers. GFP president Vijai Sardesai, who has been moving around the state to meet people, said he noticed a 'disturbing pattern' of state neglect. 'Farmers are being made to suffer without any help or relief from govt. This is our observation after hearing the grievances of people from Bicholim and Sattari,' Sardesai said. He flagged the unresolved issue of alvara land in Bicholim and Sattari, and pending cases of evacuee property at Mayem. The party has also taken strong objection to the allocation of land for large-scale projects while locals are forced to run from pillar to post to claim their own land. The party's North Goa district president, Deepak Kalangutkar, expressed concern about the construction of residential quarters for CISF's 6th Reserve Battalion at Pernem. He said that around 6,000 residential units are going to be built. 'This will change the local demography. Where will power and water come from?' he said.
