the goan I network
MAPUSA
Acknowledging the State government’s decision to withdraw the Foreign Exchange Money Act (FEMA) committee, the AAP on Saturday said it had relentlessly pursued the demand, as obtaining FEMA NOC from the committee caused immense hardship to Overseas Citizens of India of Goan origin.
Soon after the government disbanded FEMA committee on May 17, Elvis Gomes, AAP convenor in a tweet had said: “In a rarest of rare case, Goa government quietly withdrew the ‘illegal’ FEMA committee after @AAPGoa termed it a fraud on OCI’s of Goan origin. OCI’s will not have to run around any longer chasing NOCs that were illegally forced on them. They can have a peaceful visit to Goa.”
On Saturday, an AAP delegation led by Elvis Gomes met Law Minister Francis D’Souza at his residence in Mapusa and thanked him for withdrawing the FEMA circular.
AAP said that they would not hesitate to praise the government if it takes decisions that benefit the common man.
AAP convenor said that the party had raised the issue several times and finally submitted a detailed memorandum to the Law Minister demanding withdrawal of the circular.
“With the dissolution of the FEMA committee and the withdrawal of the condition, OCI’s of Goan origin can now undertake their land dealings as before,” Gomes said.
Law Minister Francis D’Souza told the media persons that the government had dissolved the FEMA committee and had also withdrawn the condition.
“Goans settled abroad can now transfer their properties in Goa easily,” D’Souza said.
It may be recalled an AAP delegation led by AAP General Secretary Pradeep Padgoankar had submitted a detailed memorandum to the law minister on April 28, highlighting the injustice caused to OCI’s of Goan origin due to the draconian condition of the FEMA committee.
The delegation had stated that OCI’s were being unnecessarily harassed to obtain NOC from the FEMA committee and demanded immediate revocation of FEMA NOC for property transaction in the State.
