TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The half-day long symposium organized by NGO-Goa’s Movement for Special Status (GMFSS) passed a resolution urging Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his 39 legislators to pass a resolution on special status in the ongoing Assembly session, so that Parliament amends Article 371-I of the Indian Constitution to protect the culture, ethos, identity and demographic balance of Goa.
The civil society members were unanimous in saying that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, being a national parties, would never be in position to grant special status for Goa due to their central agenda. The meeting decided that the regional parties like UGDP and the Su-raj party should come together and form a single party, which would be an alternative to BJP and Congress in Goa.
But, civil society members gathered for the symposium in Panjim on Sunday were critical of the Gandhi family alleging that “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the entire Gandhi family lied and betrayed Goa and Goans on the issue of granting special status.”
The meeting also resolved to urge Congress legislator Alexio Lourenco and others to move a motion in the House on special status and decided to put up the case before Goa’s Members of Parliament requesting to raise the issue in the Parliament garnering maximum support from other MPs.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, GMFSS Treasurer Prof Sergio Carvalho said that Goans, who were ruled by Portuguese by 450 years, today feel threatened for their survival despite being liberated. “They never felt so during Portuguese rule,” he added.
Carvalho called India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru a ‘liar’ for not keeping up the promise made by him to the Parliament, after the invasion, wherein he had spoken to maintain the identity, culture and integrity of Goa and Goans.
“He lied to us. He was a betrayer and so was his family. Rajiv Gandhi also did nothing and now Sonia, who during her Goa visit, before election assured to grant special status,” he said.
“She (Sonia) also turned out to be a liar just like rest of Gandhi family,” he commented. Carvalho was rightly supported by civil society members present for the symposium.
UGDP leader Radharao Gracias said that there is a need for a regional party to form Goa’s high command to fight for the rights of Goa and Goans.
He said that the national political parties, due to their national agenda will never grant special status to Goa.
“There is a need for a political movement. Need of the hour, is to go to people with an alternative political party,” he said adding ‘the Catholic’s and Hindus, who had differences during opinion polls, need to come together now to fight for special status’.
Activist Rajendra Kakodkar also came strong against national political parties, who betraying Goans on the demand of special status. “Centre is least bothered about Goa and protection of people,” he commented.
During the meeting, MSSG convenor Adv Antonio Lobo also highlighted the increasing migration of locals outside the state and the reasons for the rise in slums in the state. The activist stated that the special status will offer people hope for a better quality of life and gainful employment for its young population.
