PANJIM: Goans for Goa (GFG) has welcomed both the proposals made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during his visit to Delhi to MoS for External Affairs Meenakshi Leki. The first proposal is to issue a Surrender Certificate to the revoked passport holders. GFG reiterated that this is of primary importance as it will resolve the present crisis and give immediate relief to the affected people.
Kennedy Afonso Convenor, Goans for Goa said the second proposal mooted by the CM, that mere registration of Assento, does not make one lose his Indian Citizenship, is within the legal framework of the Citizenship Act, and if implemented will give relief to over 2 lakhs Goans, who had only registered their birth, for the benefit of their children. If both these proposals are implemented it will resolve the issue in totality .
GFG was in the process of filing six intervening petitions in the High Court, to the already existing petition filed by Ian Fernandes, which is due for hearing on the March 5, 2024.
Since, the Chief Minister has given an assurance that the issue will be resolved within the next 15 days, GFG after much deliberation with their legal advisors, and in good faith on the CM Sawant, has decided not to file the six intervening petitions, since there is already one petition before the High Court due on March 5, 2024.
GFG while welcoming the assurance given by the Chief Minister to resolve the issue within 15 days, would like to appeal to the CM to followup the matter with the MEA officials and to resolve this matter, before it comes up in the High Court. GFG is sure that the courts will eventually give justice to the affected people, as the whole MEA circular and revocation issue is bad in law. However, since this is an issue which is affecting lakhs of Goans, indirectly in many ways, it will be good if the people are given relief through the intervention of the government, as this has lot of political ramifications, as the Lok Sabha polls are just around the corner.
