Sudin demands an apology from Portugal for ‘merciless rule’
Team Herald
PORVORIM: In what could spark a major controversy, the State’s senior Minister and leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Friday demanded that the Portuguese should tender an apology to Goa for mercilessly ruling the State for 451 years.
Expressing complete displeasure on any business relations with Portugal, Dhavalikar said the country needs to apologise before trying to have any sort of relations with Goa.
“Goans cannot forget history. Portugal should tender an apology to Goa (Goans) for mercilessly ruling the State for over 451 years. They did not win the State in a battle. They were given certain part to rule by then King Adilshah in the year 1510 and then they went on adding to their territory,” Dhavalikar said while participating in the motion congratulating Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
“I don’t feel bad to congratulate him for being elected as a Prime Minister because he is son of the soil. But at the same time we have to remember that Portuguese rule had tried to keep us backward,” the minister commented adding that the relationship with Portugal can never be same, until they tender an apology.
“If Goa had not to be liberated, we would have never been able to sit in this august House and discuss issues. We should not forget that during Portuguese rule we had to travel to other countries to get educated,” Dhavalikar added.
However, his contention did not go well with his fellow colleague Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza who said, “Portuguese too are feeling bad to what they did to Goans in those 450 years of colonial rule. It was a dictatorship that ruled Goa but today the things have changed. With world changing, we too need to change. We cannot sit back with the history,” D’Souza said.
Participating in the discussion, Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “Destiny has taken revenge. The ruled have become ruler. That is why it is great day for Goa.”
State to invite Portuguese PM Costa for a civic reception
Team Herald
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday announced that the State would invite Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for a civic reception as the State Legislative Assembly congratulated the Goan origin politician for being elected premier of Portugal.
“We will have to invite him (Costa) to Goa and felicitate him. He is a son of the soil,” Parsekar said, participating in the discussion on the congratulatory motion.
The Chief Minister, however, said Goans still have certain wounds about the long Portuguese rule. “That should not stop us from congratulating a son of the soil who has attained such a high position in that country. We need to honour him,” he said responding to the demand put forth by his colleague and deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza who requested that the State felicitate Costa and other personalities like Keith Vaz.
Parsekar said there are many in Portugal who disagreed with the dictatorship the country had in the past but now Portugal is a democracy. “By felicitating Costa we will show the large heartedness of Goans,” he added.
The congratulatory motion was moved by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and was unanimously adopted by the House.
D’Souza said the State should not carry forward the historical differences Goa had with Portugal. “We should convey a new message of a new generation of people,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane concurred with D’Souza stating that Goa should invite all successful Goan sons of the soil who have made a name for themselves abroad and felicitate them.
Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh and Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho appealed to the government to resolve the controversy surrounding the dual citizenship issue, wherein several Goans have opted for Portuguese nationality by surrendering their Indian passports.
The legislators expressed concern that with increasing number of Goans opting for Portuguese passports, Goa might be left with only migrants.
