Ami Goemkar takes up for Goan Portuguese passport holders

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Taking up cudgels for Goan Portuguese passport holders, Ami Goemkar on Saturday have demanded that the Centre and the State government protect all their rights, including voting and ration card rights, saying that Goans have acquired Portuguese passports to earn a livelihood and not to surrender Indian citizenship.
While opposing any move to close or shift the Portuguese consulate in Goa, the organisation has also demanded that the Centre also undertake a study whether Goan Portuguese passport holders can enjoy the same rights as that of Pondicherry.
Addressing the media, a Portuguese passport holder Jacinto Souza from Vasco made an impassionate plea to the government not to treat Goan passport holders as strangers in their motherland. “We are Niz Goemkars. Our parents and grandparents were all born in Goa. But I had to move out to Europe for employment after I could not secure a job despite being a degree holder. The same is the situation with regards to 30,000-odd Goans who are working in Europe. Some people say we have made a mistake by taking Portuguese passport. Is it a mistake to earn a decent livelihood? If our interests are not protected, we will be foreigners in Europe as well as in Goa. We have just gone out to earn a livelihood”, Jacinto argued.
He said people who obtained Portuguese passports were not aware that they would lose their voting rights and ration cards. “I would not have opted for the Portuguese passport if I was told about this situation because I am an Indian national”, he said, adding that the authorities are now forcing the Passport holders to surrender their voting rights and ration cards.
The organisation has received support from Goan seamen as well. Dixon Vaz told the media that though he is not a Portuguese passport holder, he has come out in support of the beleaguered Goans who are in distress. “Can the government provide jobs to thousands of Goans who are working abroad? Thousand of Goans and Indians are leaving the country solely for the purpose of employment and not to change nationality”, he said.
Adv Anacleto Viegas said a passport is just a travel document and cannot be used to determine nationality or citizenship. He said Goans holding Portuguese passport need not worry as the centre and state government will have to protect their voting rights and ration cards.
He said the people have no faith in the BJP saying that those who are demanding action against the Portuguese passport holders belong to the party. “Why is the BJP not telling these groups to shut their mouth and help work out a solution?” Viegas demanded to know.
Prashant Haldankdar said that many youth have gone abroad because of government’s failure to provide jobs. “These Goans come back with money and build houses in their motherland and not in Portugal or Europe”, he said, while saying that Goans in general will stand behind them.