Through our editorial in the September 5, 2017 edition of Herald, we had asked our
readers to participate in the debate stirred by IT Minister Rohan Khaunte’s
controversial statement. It may be recalled that recently, Khaunte, while
speaking at a function, had made a statement on the lines of, ‘those who have
lost their love for Goa and live outside Goa have no right to criticise and
comment on Goa.’ After the comment created an uproar, Khanute then tried to
clarify this by saying that he was targeting those who had acquired Portuguese
(or foreign) passports and were living abroad, making matters worse.
Needless to say, the topic spread like wild fire on social media
and Goans living in Goa and abroad took turns to express their opinions on the
matter. Facebook groups such as Goa+, Goa Speaks, Goans for Goa Forum, etc were
buzzing with varied comments and opinions, some of which were made using
choicest of expletives and abuses aimed at the minister and those supporting
his statement. An individual going by the profile name of Fernandez Cip, said
on one of the FB groups, “Goan NRIs are patriotic and love their motherland
Goa, the land of their ancestors more than the allegedly CORRUPT current Goan
politicians. These current politicians including Rohan Khaunte with sole
interest in looting the Goa’s treasury and also somehow selling Goan land
including our Communidade land to ghantis for hard cash black money
directly into their pockets. (sic)” Another individual by the name of Kennedy
Afonso posted a video of himself criticising and questioning Rohan Khaunte on
the said controversial statement.
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While most of the participants in this debate seemed to be
against the minister and his statement, some expressed their support. A person
by the name of Savio Almeida, claiming to be a NRI, said, “Do Goans have any
right to ask apology from Rohan Khaunte on his NRI statement? M an NRI and I am
not hurt by Rohan’s statement. We NRIs are abused on a daily basis on social
media by our fellow GOan who are residing in Goa saying cleaning toilets on
ship, washing dishes and some even go on their legal or illegal status and such
abuses are liked and enjoyed by many other Goans who follow social media. When
we Goans have no respect or other Goans, no Goans have right to question Rohan
Khaunte. I support you Rohan Khaunte. (sic)” Almeida made this statement via
his post on the FB group Goa Speaks. Another person by the name of Simon
Sequeira extended his support to Almeida by saying, “Savio bab, I’m very happy
to know that you have understood what our hon’ble minister meant to say and how
the media has twisted matters.. Goemkars the world over will never lose
their love for their motherland and I’m sure every true goemkar has
understood this and stands with our minister.. Let the fake IDs continue
shouting. Viva! (sic)”
Going
by the storm that Khaunte’s comment has created on social media, it does not
look like it is going to be laid to rest anytime soon. It will be interesting
to wait and watch what lies next in store for Goans living in Goa and abroad,
and more importantly, Goans living online and offline.
