TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Environment Minister, Alina Saldanha on Sunday called upon Goans to unitedly fight to achieve special status for Goa and ensure that the voices of Goans finally echoes in the Indian Parliament.
Speaking at the meeting organised by Goa’s Movement for Special Status (GMFSS) at the Dando grounds, Benaulim on Sunday evening, Alina preferred not to refer to the Mopa airport issue, but called upon the people to remain united to protect Goa’s identity and to save the state for posterity.
She expressed concern that people from other states, including Bihar who comedown to Goa everyday enjoy accommodation, ration cards and gets all preferences over the locals. And, she warned Goans to maintain their self respect and dignity by not selling their land to outsiders, saying that money is not everything.
“It is land that gives us our identity. But, our own people are selling their land and ancestral houses to outsiders. The influx of migrants has hit our carrying capacity. Goa’s birth rate is the lowest, but our population is increasing because of the influx,” she said.
In his spirited address, social activist Dr Oscar Rebello underlined the need to protect the ancestral land for posterity and by putting the land to economic use.
Secondly, he called upon the people to tell their MLAs, comunidade officials and religious heads to protect the land they own.
“The government, comunidade and religious organisations own huge tracks of land, which needs to be protected at all costs”, he said and called upon the people to send across a message that they will not tolerate any encroachment on any land by getting the encroachers evicted immediately.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva said it is the duty of every Goa to support and strengthen the hands of Alina Saldanha in achieving special status for Goa. He, however, cautioned the people to remain vigil as efforts would be on to split the people and the movement. “It is not the duty of only Alina Saldanha or other members of the committee. All should join hands to achieve the objective,” he said.
Activist Serafino Cota reminded that the fight for special status is not for the benefit of the present generation, but for the posterity. Amongst others, the meeting was addressed by Amol Navelkar, Wilton D’Costa, Benaulim Sarpanch Royla Fernandes, Carmona deputy Sarpanch Orlando Da Silva.
Most of the sarpanchs and Panch members of village panchayats from Benaulim constituency attended the meeting.
