PANJIM: Amidst Opposition walkout, the Ruling legislators including ministers hailed the Central government for introducing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), particularly because it will prove to be a boon to those Goans, living in Muslim-dominated countries, willing to return home.
The Congratulatory Motion moved by Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate witnessed a commotion when the Opposition benches excluding Ramkrishna Dhavalikar walking to the well of the House opposing the motion. Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, legislators Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte among others charged the Speaker with ‘murdering democracy.’
“The CAA law is itself unconstitutional. The Speaker is murdering the democracy. CAA is de-citizenship,” Sardesai said, demanding that the House take up discussion against the citizenship law. The Opposition also urged the Speaker to not bog down to the pressure.
Discussion on the Congratulatory Motion continued despite the walkout. Ministers Nilesh Cabral, Mauvin Godinho and Michael Lobo; and MLA Joshua D’Souza claimed that several Goans settled in Karachi and countries like Bangladesh and Afghanistan have always been making desperate attempts to return to their homeland. The CAA, they stated, will give them citizenship.
“There were Christians from Goa working in different parts of the world including Karachi in Pakistan. In 1961 when Goa became a part of India on being liberated from the Portuguese, this section of migrated Goans was not recognised. Moreover, properties of those settled in Karachi were given the title ‘enemy properties’ in Goa. With CAA, they will be legally becoming citizens of the country,” Cabral said.
He was supported by Godinho, who too lashed out at anti-CAA groups and recalled how Indian women in a few other countries were trafficked.
“Women were trafficked and sent to China, young girls were raped … All these facts are in the media…. Is it not our duty to save the persecuted minorities,” he questioned.
In a bid to provide clarity on CAA, Cabral read the details of the original CAA 1955 and the amended three-page provision, which is being debated. He claimed that the democratic India will be giving rights to original Indians settled in Islamic countries and willing to comeback.
Lobo informed the House that Goans in Pakistan have been going through tough times to visit their homeland. “Many Indians and our Goans went to Pakistan. In my constituency itself, there are many families… I gave a letter to (the concerned authorities/Embassy) to invite them to Goa. These people told me they want to come back to India and Goa,” he said, adding that even after years of debate during the Congress-regime at the Centre, the Act was never a reality until Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Attempts are being made to defame the popular PM. There are attempts to divide us and create fear. But we would assure the people that some entities are trying to create politics out of this issue. Wrong speeches and defamatory remarks are being made to bring hatred,” he added and appealed to people not to fall prey to wrong tactics.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza said CAA is a good move for the victims of ethnic violence.
“Several families, who went to Pakistan to work, have undergone hardships till this day to visit their families and friends in Goa. CAA gives Goans opportunity to get citizenship, OCI and PIO,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar and MLA Isidore Fernandes also asked anti-CAA groups/individuals not to protest ‘for the sake of opposing the Act.’
The ministers and ruling MLAs congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on CAA.
The Speaker will convey to the Centre the passing of the Congratulatory Motion in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
