TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: As the Goa government’s drive against foreigners overstaying in Goa continues, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik Friday demanded that irrespective of their nationalities, foreign nationals found overstaying and found without valid documents, should be deported.
He demanded amendment to the Indian Constitution by making special provisions for Goa under Article 371 to protect its limited land and its culture so that illegal activities of certain foreign nationals are curbed.
In the wake of the Nigeria-Goa government row and revelations that several of their nationals overstay illegally on expired or inadequate visas, Naik also alleged that they misuse educational schemes, violate Foreign Exchange Management Act and indulge in drug trade in the state.
“Nigerians misuse educational schemes, violate Foreign Exchange Management Act, indulge in drug trade and yet try to boss over Goans which, no civilized society would tolerate,” he said in a press statement released on Friday.
More than 60 Nigerians blocked Goa’s lifeline ~National Highway-17 at Porvorim, for three hours last week to protest the murder of a fellow countryman. Condemning this incident, Naik further alleged that several Nigerians stay in Goa reportedly, by destroying their passports so that they continue their stay on temporary documents.
The MP suspects that the murder of Obodo Uzoma Simeon is a fall out of a gang war over narcotics trade in the north coast and demanded a thorough probe.
“Although Nigerians are permitted to take education in India, their activities in Goa are dubious, illegal and dangerous to the peace loving State,” he commented.
He has also demanded that a Nigerian Diplomat abusive SMSes to North Goa SP Priyanka Kashyap, should be inquired while also into the allegations made against the SP whether she had used offensive language against the locals.
Meanwhile, he took a dig at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who held Ministry of External Affairs responsible for allegedly not briefing Nigerian High Commissioner properly on the incident. Naik called it a politically motivated statement.
