Panaji, Aug 14 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Sunday snubbed Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's request to grant special status to Goa.

Chidambaram, who was in Goa to participate in a function involving felicitation of freedom fighters organised in Kamat's constituency of Margao, 35 km from here, said the central government could offer a financial package to Goa as part of a 50th anniversary of liberation from Portuguese rule, but not a "special status".

"How can I talk of special status?" Chidambaram said, minutes after Kamat in his speech asked the union minister and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre to consider his request to grant Goa a special status.

Kamat in his speech said that Goa should be granted special status because the state had missed out on the financial allocations from two consecutive five year plans and that a special status would help to compensate for the loss.

Chidambaram, however, said: "I will plead with the prime minister and union finance minister to offer funding for the growth of the state. Goa has been a fast developing state, despite being liberated (from Portuguese rule) much after India's independence."