Morals have disappeared in Goa. There is no moral value. It is all political and everyone is for themselves. We were 5 lakhs when India took over now we are 15 lakh and many Goans have gone out and original Goans are in minority, they are not even 20%. Looking back at Statehood Day, I went personally for this function held at Campal ground and PM was there and others were there, a lot of speeches were made, and everyone was happy. Before that, there was Konkani agitation at Azad Maidan and that was a big success. Konkani was recognized as an official language. We had all those protests and big public meetings at Azad maidan. The central government was run by Gandhis who were friendly to Eduardo Faleiro (former External Affairs Minister of State) and that helped. MGP was always saying Konkani was part of Marathi. We have never lived up to the ideals and foundations.
– Rafael Viegas (90), Goa’s senior-most informal oral historian
Goa attained Statehood means it attained every right in the constitution. For the first time in 1000 years, Goa was finally given a right to rule. Statehood was an instrument, but attaining it didn’t mean all issues were solved. Goans had a dream to attain statehood and use that to make Goa a better state, hence they asked for statehood. But this aspiration of Goa being a better State did not aspire. We attained statehood but to run the State we needed good leaders which we did not get.
– Uday Bhembre, scholar, author, and leading protagonist of the Konkani movement
We want Goa to be pollution-free and due to sustainable development projects, our Goans get a job. Goa’s sun and sand, its architecture its churches and temples, and Goa’s main essence, its harmony should be kept intact and I request this government and the people to do that. Congress party is to be credited for the Statehood and the recognition that Konkani got in the constitution. As a tourist destination the party Goa was aimed at being a pollution-free destination without any concrete jungles.
– Shambhu Bhau Bandekar,
Former Deputy Speaker
