Porvorim, Jul 31 (TOI): Lawmakers on Monday said the government’s failure to create viable employment opportunities was forcing Goans to give up their Indian citizenship and migrate abroad in search of livelihood. The strongest criticism against the government came from within the BJP ranks.

Calangute BJP MLA and deputy speaker Michael Lobo joined Congress MLAs Ravi Naik and Aleixo Reginald Lourenco in castigating the state government for not doing enough to create jobs.

“One-and-half-years ago, he took up the issues as the minister and till today, the issue is unresolved,” Lobo said. “People prayed that the minister would bring about change that he spoke about when he was in the opposition, but in the last one-and-half years, nothing has changed. Let us accept that.”

“The government goes to each constituency and promises 1,000 jobs. If that is so, then 40,000 jobs would be created every year,” former chief minister and Ponda Congress MLA Ravi Naik said.

Congress MLAs led the attack on the government with some ruling MLAs also joining in, though in a more reserved manner. Lobo linked unemployment to the surge in Goans adopting Portuguese citizenship. “Goans are reluctantly giving up Indian citizenship, but they want to earn some money and live a nice life,” he said.