Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa leaders on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led government deliberately prevented the introduction of several Private Members’ Bills in the Goa Legislative Assembly, claiming the move undermined the democratic process and blocked discussion on key public issues.
Addressing the media, AAP Senior Vice President Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai, Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik, ST leader Rajesh Gaonkar, Vice President Roque Mascarenhas and Youth leader Neash Coutinho said the government did not allow the bills to be introduced during Private Members’ Day.
The party said AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva had raised issues in the Assembly relating to Goa’s identity, environment and livelihoods. According to AAP leaders, the government avoided allowing the bills to be tabled to prevent debate on these concerns.
Teleikar-Dessai said the developments in the Assembly showed the government was unwilling to discuss legislation aimed at protecting Goa’s land and natural resources.
“By blocking these bills, the BJP government has clearly shown that it fears any legislation that seeks to protect Goa’s land and natural resources from powerful interests. These bills were meant to safeguard Goa’s agricultural fields, ecology and traditional livelihoods, but the government chose to silence the discussion itself,” he said.
He further alleged that the reluctance to allow debate on the bills raised questions about whose interests were being protected. Teleikar-Dessai claimed that land conversions, casino expansion and commercial activity involving rivers and coastlines were benefiting influential groups.
AAP Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik said the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill, 2026 had been proposed by Opposition MLAs including AAP MLAs Cruz Silva and Venzy Viegas in response to public opposition to large-scale land conversions and protests related to Section 39A.
He said the bill aimed to ensure long-term protection for agricultural land and eco-sensitive areas but was prevented from being introduced.
Naik alleged that Private Members’ Day was disrupted to stop discussion on issues related to government policies.
Roque Mascarenhas said that three other bills introduced by MLA Venzy Viegas addressed concerns related to casino regulation, water pollution and port jurisdiction.
These included the Goa Public Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Goa, Daman and Diu Irrigation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Goa Maritime Board Act Bill, 2026.
According to Mascarenhas, the proposals sought to address issues such as the expansion of casino gambling, pollution in creeks including Colva creek, and concerns about port jurisdiction affecting fishermen and local communities.
AAP South Goa Youth Wing President Neash Coutinho said Goa’s rivers and streams were facing pollution from industrial and medical waste and alleged that the government did not allow the irrigation amendment bill to be presented.
AAP leaders said the party would continue raising issues related to land protection, rivers, environment and livelihoods in the state.
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