TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Days after Goa Vikas Party legislator Caetano ‘Caitu’ Silva was declared to have ceased to be a citizen of India by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a disqualification petition has been filed against him before Goa Governor B V Wanchoo on the ground that Silva is a Portuguese national and ‘is not eligible for being a member of the state legislative assembly’.
The petition has been filed by John Fernandes, who had also petitioned MHA, on Monday. John, along with his counsel Advocate Radharao Gracias and former Congress minister Churchill Alemao met the governor on Monday morning seeking disqualification of the legislator under articles 192 and 191 (1)(d), 9 and 326 of the Constitution of India.
Fernandes informed the governor that Silva has got his birth entered in the central registry of births, Lisbon and therefore has acquired Portuguese nationality. He submited that by virtue of not being an Indian citizen, Silva is not eligible to continue to be a member of the legislative assembly and hence attracts disqualification under the said articles of the Constitution. “His (Silva’s) continuation as member for even a single day is a gross illegality and an insult to patriotic voters, who have been misled to vote for him,” Fernandes said.
Addressing media persons after meeting the governor, Radharao, in the presence of Alemao and Fernandes, said that the
governor has assured to refer the matter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a detailed report on the episode, following which necessary action would be initiated.
Gracias said that a complaint would be also be filed before the mamlatdar of Salcete and Chief Electoral Office asking to delete Silva’s name from the voters list. A petition would be also made to the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Rajendra Arelkar demanding that Silva not be allowed to continue as an MLA.
“We would be also writing to the passport officer asking to withdraw Silva’s Indian passport,” he said. Radharao equated Silva to Nigerians ‘illegally’ staying in the State. “He (Silva) is like the Nigerians who are staying here illegally. He too does not have Indian citizenship, Indian visa and is still allowed to stay in Goa,” he said.
Radharao demanded that the Government of India should come out with legislation or a provision for Goa, giving protection to those Goans who have procured Portuguese nationality for economic purposes. “Their interest needs to be safeguarded,” he demanded.
Earlier Alemao alleged BJP is ‘non patriotic’ for supporting Silva. “BJP who call themselves patriotic…nationalist…today their government survival is more important to them’. He also raised questions over the dignity of freedom fighters, who came out to strongly oppose the arrival of the Portuguese ship in Goa, in 2010, to commemorate 500 years of Goa’s conquest by the Portuguese.
State CEO keeps off controversy
PANJIM: The state Chief Electoral Office (CEO) has refused to take suo moto cognizance of the citizenship controversy surrounding GVP legislator Caetano Silva stating that ‘there is no such provision under Representation of People’s Act’.
However, the CEO is ready to initiate inquiry and take action provided there is an official complaint against the legislator, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Narayan Navti told Herald. He said that so far the CEO has not received any complaint.
Navti said that the CEO is in the process of deleting 2021 names of voters from the electoral roll for holding Portuguese nationality. He said that notices have been served to these persons seeking their reply.
“On an average per year, 1500 to 2000 names get deleted for holding Portuguese or foreign nationality,” he said. The list is obtained from Foreigners Registration Office (RFO). Since 2008, over 6000 names of voters have been deleted for holding Portuguese nationality, he said
