TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Former Carmona Sarpanch Eustaqio D’Costa has filed a petition before the State Election Commission seeking disqualification of village deputy Sarpanch Orlando Da Silva from the membership of the panchayat body on grounds that the latter has obtained Portuguese nationality.
Orlando, however, has denied the claim and asserted he has no Portuguese passport. “Let them prove the charges that I am a Portuguese national. I am an Indian citizen,” he added.
In his disqualification petition, Eustaqio has prayed to the SEC to stop Orlando from taking part in the monthly meetings and from casting his vote pending the final disposal of the petition.
He claimed that Orlando is not a citizen of India and ceased to be one consequent upon securing the registration of his birth in the Central Civil Registers of Portugal on October 31, 2008. “By virtue of not being an Indian citizen, Orlando is not entitled to be on the electoral rolls and not entitled to contest any election in India,” Eustaqio said, adding that he has incurred disqualification under section 10(a) of the Goa Panchayati Raj and is not eligible to continue. “His continuance as member for even a single day is a gross illegality and an insult to the voters, who have been misled to vote for him,” Eustaqio added.
