TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Asserting that injustice has been meted out to Goa on the question of special status, Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) convenor Fr Eremito Rebello has demanded to know why the Indian Government cannot give special status to Goa in line with Pondicherry.
“On August 31, I made a factual statement that Goa was annexed to India by the Indian invasion of 1961, and that the then Goans were not given an opportunity to decide their future. I don’t see any reason as to why the President of GMFSS, Prajal Sakhardande criticized my statement which is a historical fact. I admire Sakhardande for his wonderful knowledge of history. But how can a good historian sweep under the carpet a historical fact like this one?” Fr Rebello asked.
He said his statement had neither affirmed nor denied whether I am happy or unhappy to be a citizen of India. “This question does not arise at all. But denying or ignoring the fact that we, the Goans of 1961 and their offsprings were not given the choice to decide whether we wanted to be independent or part of India, amounts to injustice. To decide our future was our fundamental right. The point I wanted to make is that the minimum that India could give us now is Special Status.
We need to study and know the advantages or special status enjoyed by some other former colonies. In India, Pondicherry, the former French colony enjoys special status powers given by the Indian Government in agreement with France. Why this injustice to Goa? Why can’t the Indian Government give special status to Goa in line with Pondicherry? How long should Goans suffer? he asked.
