New Delhi, Aug 31 (TNN): Goa's hopes of special status have been dashed. The Central government opposed a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to provide special status to Goa that would help regulate the influx of foreigners and migrants to the state and protect the economic and cultural interests of its citizens.

The private member's resolution, which was later withdrawn after the government's reply, was moved by Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik.

Naik demanded that special provisions be made in Article 371 of the Constitution so that Goa assembly has rights to enact specific laws. "Land mafias from foreign countries are landing in states like Goa with tonnes of money buying huge areas creating social and economic chaos. Some of the parties have potential enough to buy a whole village," Naik said.

"The Goa assembly should have the right to enact laws to regulate influx of people in the state," Naik added.

In support of his resolution, Naik said that in some places in Goa, Russians and Israelis were involved in running commercial activities and were "grabbing land" and this was harming the interest of the local people.

Replying after the debate, Union minister of state for home RPN Singh said the Constitution provides a right to every citizen of the country to move from one place to another. "The government opposes the resolution in its present form," he said.

On Naik's charge that Russians and other foreigners were involved in illegal commercial activity, he said under the prevalent visa regimes of the country, they cannot do commercial activities without permission of RBI. "If they are doing so, they should be dealt with strongly and the state government is empowered to do so," Singh said.

Goa has been actively seeking special status for long now. The Goa assembly had passed a resolution in mid-April this year seeking special status for Goa. The resolution, adopted unanimously, aimed at "regulating ownership and transfer of land" to protect Goa's identity.

The issue of special status was also raised with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in June this year when an all-party delegation from Goa, headed by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, had called on him to seek the Centre's support for resumption of legal mining in Goa.

Narendra Kashyap (BSP) and Munavvar Saleem (SP) also took part in the debate.