There’s so much debate about Goans acquiring Portuguese passports and taking advantage of going to European Union countries either for resettlement or for work. This has created improbable atmosphere and a solution isn’t readily available now. The issue has gained with two MLAs and a senior police officer getting caught with Portuguese passports or having registered their births in Portugal. There’s also a case of one former chief minister allegedly having himself and some family members registered in the Portuguese birth registry.
So, on this date of Goa’s Liberation, it’s wise to reflect on this problem. On January 26, 1950 when India proclaimed itself as a Republic, the government of India recognized that those Goans domiciled in India for the past five years automatically became an Indian citizen. It had a condition that the person hadn’t acquired the national of any other foreign country. It was dichotomous as legally Goans were Portuguese internationally. Call it a concession to domiciled Goans.
The Indian government also provided a concession to those domiciled in Portuguese Goa in accepting the ‘Guia’ and a travel document in lieu of a passport. For Portuguese official, the conditions were different, as they were required to ‘Guias’ or passports endorsed for travel in the Indian territory.
It was a predicament of sorts but it was smooth flowing as far as travel back and forth from Portuguese Goa to the Indian Union was concerned. However, those Goans who showed their passions for India and not necessarily active nationalists were subjected to suspicions by the Portuguese. Even the message of greeting on India becoming a Republic by the Indian Consul-General to its newly-appointed President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, was not allowed to be printed in Goa’s newspapers. It was Nehru’s peaceful temperament to prevail upon the Portuguese to make Goa a part of India without “aggression” and by diplomatic nicety. Portugal wasn’t in any mood of giving up Goa. The Portuguese believed that Goans were Portuguese nationals and, per se, they were entitled to live under the Portuguese flag for all purposes. By providing Goans Portuguese passports, Portugal keeps reaffirming its rights, albeit it runs contrary to India’s national interest.
Therefore, the issue of Portuguese passports hangs fire. The Portuguese standpoint that it’s an “Indian” problem and how best it needs to solve or tackle remains solely in the hands of the Indian government. That the ex-CM of Goa, Manahor Parrikar, in his bid to rescue the MLAs, one of who is an erstwhile supporter of the BJP, has mooted “dual citizenship”. Now that Parrikar is part of the Union cabinet, it remains to be seen if he can convince the Indian government move in this direction.
