PANJIM: Two days after his comments on the Overseas Citizens of India caused uproar in the State, Minister for Waste Management, Ports and RDA Michael Lobo said, “OCIs are our brother” and he was not against them.
However, the minister also said that the OCIs must not oppose development projects.
“I respect OCIs, but I expect them to give the same respect to us Goans. I don’t want them to comment very harshly on Goa. They are putting defamatory posts on social media which is poisoning minds of the people,” he said.
The minister said he agrees that people migrated to London with Portuguese passports for greener pastures.
“I agree they went for jobs, but when you go there don’t put defamatory posts on infrastructural projects. Only a small percentage of people are involved in these types of things. They are trying to poison minds,” he said.
Lobo also suggested that the OCIs must not comment on development projects.
“Do not comment on development in Goa. Development has to happen,” he said adding that the comments have to be positive.
Speaking at a function called by the trade bodies in a starred hotel in the city, Lobo had said that the expats settled abroad were poisoning the mind of the locals which in turn in reflecting in opposition to developmental projects.
“Those holding OCI cards should be more concerned about what is happening in Portugal or London. Leave Goa to us, we are there to take care of it Goa,” Lobo said.
Stopping short of saying that the OCIs have no right to talk of Goa, he said “When you go there don’t comment about Goa. You are Overseas Citizens of India. You should be more interested in what is happening in Portugal or what is happening in London”.
