TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Former MGP MLA and ex Chief Minister Ravi Naik said Goans, especially all politicians, including all political parties should always be grateful to the Father of the Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira, who saved Goa from being part of Maharashtra. If he hadn’t worked tirelessly to avoid the merger of Goa with Maharashtra, then Goa today could have been a small district of Maharashtra, with two MLAs and a district collector.
He was speaking at the function organized by Ponda Block Congress Committee to celebrate the birth centenary of former Opposition leader and Father of Opinion poll Dr Jack de Sequeira, on Monday.
“It is his United Goans Party and Indian National Congress, which played an important role on the issue of Merger of Goa to retain Goa as a separate territory within the Union of India,” Naik said. The Congress had fought for and attained Statehood for Goa in 1987.
Now all Goans are reaping the fruits of Statehood of Goa, which would not have been possible if the visionary man of principles Dr Jack de Sequeira did not work to retain Goa as a distinct independent entity. He fought for the Opinion poll of 1967 at a crucial time when some Maharashtra and Goan political leaders were working hard to make it just a district of Maharashtra state, where Goans would not have any value in politics of such a big state, former Chief Minister Ravi Naik said.
“Dr Jack Sequeira was a great visionary who saw the dream of development of Goa with a distinct identity. It is sorry to state that many youngsters do not know who Dr Jack Sequeira is and it is on this great day of his birth anniversary they should be encouraged to know his contribution,” Naik emphasised. “We are enjoying the benefits of his contribution. I am from Bahujan Samaj and my dream of becoming chief minister could be fulfilled because of him. Not only me, but all those who have become chief ministers of Goa and future aspirants for the CM’s post should be grateful to him as the credit goes to this great visionary to retain Goa as a separate State.
After Goa’s Liberation from the clutches of Portuguese rule, the majority Bahujan Samaj of Goa was for the Merger of Goa with Maharashtra. It is then that Dr Sequeira and many other Goans, conducted several meetings all over Goa to create awareness about the need to protect Goan culture and identity. If the Mergerists were successful today the common man would have to travel to Mumbai to meet the chief minister. It would even become difficult for the common man to take appointment to meet the chief minister.
On the occasion Milind Madgut and Ram Cuncoliekar also spoke about the contribution of Dr Jack Sequeira. Block president of Congress Committee John Pereira welcomed the gathering and proposed a vote of thanks.
