Team Herald
PANJIM: Alleging that Goans are become outsiders in their own mother land, Congress has demanded reservation for niz Goenkars in government jobs and education.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson and ex-MLA Agnelo Fernandes “If Maharashtra government can give reservations to the Maratha community then why can’t Goa government have reservations for niz Goenkar? It is the duty of the State government to ensure protection to the niz Goenkars, who are slowly losing their identity as against the outsiders.”
He further demanded that the 15-year domicile period, sought for government jobs, should be scrapped, alleging that even non-Goans, who are residing in the State for those many years and more, are benefiting.
Fernandes said that the niz Goenkar is someone, whose forefathers are born and brought up in the coastal State.
He pointed out how the 15-year domicile period has helped non-Goans fetch government jobs and admissions in various professional colleges. “All this needs to be stopped or in days to come, we will see no Goans in Goa,” he lamented.
Fernandes attacked BJP Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for encouraging migration in the coastal belt to create a vote bank. He charged that non-Goan criminals, who are shielded by MLAs, are vote banks.
