Captain Viriato FernandesDOCKET NO. 60626

AGE

54

EDUCATION

Master of Management Studies

TERMS SERVED

1

PROFESSION BEFORE POLITICS

Served in the Indian Navy for 26 years (retired in 2017 as Captain). Participated in the 1999 Kargil War (Operation Talwar) and was awarded the Vijay Star Medal. Prominent environmental and social activist post-retirement, founding member of NGO Goencho Avaaz.

DECLARED ASSETS

Rs 5.28 Crore

DYNASTY CONNECTIONS

None

A retired Indian Navy Captain and prominent activist who led the 'Goencho Ekvott' movement against coal hub projects and double-tracking in Goa before entering politics.

ATTENDANCE

86.1%

QUESTIONS ASKED

77

DEBATES PARTICIPATED

28

MPLADS UTILIZATION

28.2%

SOURCE: PRS India

ALLOCATED

₹14.70 Cr

SPENT

₹4.82 Cr

UNSPENT

₹9.88 Cr

UTILIZATION

32.8%

WORKS COMPLETED

24

WORKS RECOMMENDED

100

SOURCE: Empowered Indian (empoweredindian.in/mplads), MPLADS government data

0 FULFILLED · 0 BROKEN · 4 IN PROGRESS · 0 UNVERIFIED

1. 01. Advocated for special constitutional protections for Goa to safeguard its land, environment, and resources. Introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in Parliament, proposing amending Article 371(I) to include special provisions for the state and the establishment of a Goa Sustainable Development Council.

   IN PROGRESS

   On February 7, 2025, Captain Viriato Fernandes introduced a Private Member's Bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to amend Article 371(I) to provide special status for Goa regarding land and resource protection.

   Special Status for Goa · SOURCE: Sansad.in Parliamentary Business (Private Members' Bills)

2. 02. Staunch resistance to railway double-tracking projects and coal transportation, which he frequently highlights as a major threat to Goa's environment and a point of contention with the ruling government.

   IN PROGRESS

   He has raised the issue of coal pollution and the impact of the South Western Railway double-tracking project in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour and Budget discussions in 2024.

   Opposition to Railway Double-Tracking · SOURCE: Digital Sansad - Lok Sabha Debates 2024

3. 03. Vowed to protect ecologically sensitive zones, forests, and no-development areas. Pledged to stop the unchecked sale of Goan land to outsiders.

   IN PROGRESS

   He has actively advocated against large-scale land conversions in Goa and used his parliamentary platform to demand legislative safeguards against the sale of land to non-Goans.

   Protection of Land and Ecology · SOURCE: The Navhind Times / Lok Sabha Proceedings

4. 04. Promised to push for the reservation of assembly seats for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Goa, frequently raising the issue in Parliament to ensure effective democratic participation for these communities.

   IN PROGRESS

   Fernandes has repeatedly petitioned the Union Home Ministry and raised the demand in Parliament for ST assembly seat reservation in Goa before the 2027 elections; the Union Cabinet recently cleared a bill for this purpose.

   ST Political Representation · SOURCE: Press Information Bureau (PIB) India / Lok Sabha Starred Questions

Case involves charges under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 447 (criminal trespass), and 427 (mischief), generally related to his involvement in public protests and activism.

• Faced controversy during the 2024 election campaign over comments regarding the

  MEDIUM · ALLEGED

  Faced controversy during the 2024 election campaign over comments regarding the Constitution, which became a focal point of debate by political opponents.

  2024 · SOURCE: The Print, Scroll.in, Free Press Journal

• [1] MyNeta 2024
• [2] PRS Legislative Research
• [3] Parliamentary records/Campaign speeches
• [4] Campaign speeches 2024
• [5] Campaign manifesto speeches
• [6] Campaign and Parliamentary speeches