PANJIM: Giving a call for a fresh fight to reclaim the honour of Goa and dignity of Goemkar on the occasion of 33rd Statehood Day, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Friday launched an online campaign raising a question on whether it is crime to be a Goan in Goa (#CrimeToBeGoaninGoa).
Addressing a press conference, GFP President Vijai Sardesai along with MLAs Jayesh Salagoncar and Vinod Palienkar accused Dr Pramod Sawant-led government of being “insensitive”, “heartless”, “deaf and dumb” towards the distress Goans, including the seafarers, who are stranded across world due to COVID-19 pandemic enforced lockdown.
The party demanded that government should immediately make public the “Rescue and Repatriation Plan” and Goa specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ahead of Lockdown 5, which is likely to come into force from June 1.
“Thirty three years back, we all Goans unitedly fought to claim the honour of Goa and dignity of Goemkar by upgrading our status from Union Territory to State. These years have been full of roller coaster rides,” Sardesai alleged.
Former Deputy Chief Minister claimed that slowly a feeling has been developed amongst the Goans that “Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarpon” is slowly and steadily fading, and the feeling has been strengthen in last two months since March 25.
“Due to the irresponsible, insensitive and anti Goan policies of the BJP-led government,” he commented.
“Hence, we call upon all the Goans for fresh fight to reclaim the honour of Goa and dignity of Goemkar. For this, our party is launching online campaign #crimetobeaGoaninGoa? The campaign focus is to get the stranded Goans back to their homes,” Sardesai informed.
He said that due to anti-Goan polices adopted by the government, the Niz Goemkar is feeling lost and endangered in their own land.
Accusing BJP-led government for adopting a discriminatory SOP for the Goans and non Goan travellers coming to Goa, GFP demanded a separate SOP for the State. It has urged the government to desist from charging any repatriated Goan, returning from abroad, whether seafarers or non-seafarers, any fees for health related measures such as testing, quarantine, etc. in adherence to the World Health Organisation (WHO) mandated International Health Regulations 2005 and humanitarian laws.
Sardesai also said that though Chief Minister is in hurry to resume all the activities, there is no exit lockdown policy in place.
Meanwhile, former Fisheries Minister and MLA Vindo Palienkar strongly condemned the Central government’s decision to reduce the fish ban period from 61 days to 47 days. He said that in line with the Central decision, State has decided to have ban from June 15 instead of June 1.
“This will hamper the fish breeding season. We may lead to fish famine,” he said.
