Fema violations by Russians need to be inquired into: Shantaram Naik

Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. said here today that there were large scale violations of FEMA by Russian in Morje which require prompt action by State machinery. Mr Naik in a statement issued after the tour of Morje village on Saturday . has said that the provisions of Foreign Exchage Management Act 1999 and Regulations framed thereunder are required to be tightened, so that, foreign nationals do not purchase land in Goa illegally , deprive locals of their business and means of livelihood. Mr Naik said that recent budget provides for the aappointment of a Committee to examine all financial legislations to bring in reforms in them and that, he will take up the issue of need to amend FEMA with that committee.

Mr Naik said he propses to take up the larger issue including the need to amend Constitution to give protection for Goa land with the Prime Minister very soon. Goa being a tourist State and considering age old tradition of Goa's hospitality "Atithi Devo Bhavo" ( A guest is like a God) should be our motto and that we should try to handle conflits between locals and foreigners with restraint. Mr Naik who visited Moji village in North Goa along with Shri Ramakant Khalap, former Union Minister, President of North Goa District Congress Committee Shri Amarnath Panjikar, General Secretary Goa PCC Shri Altinho Gomes, Secretary Shri Gurudas Natekar and Vice President of Goa Khadi Board Dr. Ulhas Parab said that if certain things are not nipped in bud situation may go out of hands.

Mr Naik said that FEMA provisions permit foreign nationals from doing business under certain conditions, which are blatantly violated. Mr Naik said if foreigners are found purchasing agricultural land, or when they do business without having come on business visa, without taking permission from Reserve Bank of India , without fulfilling requirement of 182 days of residence and without fulfilling other mandatory requirements, the State government, as also Central Government authorities have to act swiftly and take legal action.

Mr Naik said that during his tour of Morji , he was told that the Russians are plying motorcycle taxi's as their business depriving local pilots of their livelihood. besides violating FEMA and Motor Vehicles Act. Many food joints are run de facto by Russians when the licences from Panchayats and other authorities stand in the name of locals and, in such cases the concerned Russian or foreign national should be deemed to doing business in violation of violating FEMA even when the business is not actually registered in the foreigners name. Mr Naik said that State Government has consciously taken a decision not to prescribe any dress code but during my Morje tour I was told that some Russians move totally naked , and that , they move in villages with hardly any dress on them . Besides corrupting minds of locals they leave a horrifying impression on school going children.

Mr Naik said that he was told that there were a number of Russian tourists constantly abusing the locals on some pretext or the other, however, I was told that when complains are made with the police they side with foreigners. Incidents of blocking of right of way by Russians are also increasing Mr Naik said. Mr Naik said although it is a fact that locals are also in collusion with some foreigners , State machinery should enforce laws strictly , so that, it becomes difficult for locals to connive with foreigners in doing illegal business. Mr Naik said that if police machinery and Village Panchayat machinery try to go by rule of law, 50% of the problems which arise between locals and foreigners can be solved.