On the eve of the 59th anniversary of the Opinion Poll, Sahitya Akademi Award winner Uday Bhembre recalled the intense debates surrounding Goa’s proposed merger with Maharashtra. Bhembre, who played an active role in the Opinion Poll Movement, stated that nearly 35 per cent of Catholics were firmly opposed to the merger, though he acknowledged that a small section supported Dayanand Bandodkar and his Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which favoured merger. He outlined then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s position, stressing that Goa’s distinct identity would be lost if it were merged with a population of nearly 10 crore Maharashtrians. According to Bhembre, the Opinion Poll was crucial in preserving Goa’s cultural, linguistic and political uniqueness.
Uday Bhembre recalls Catholic stand against Goa–Maharashtra merger
