Sardinha opposes Greater Goa

Sardinha opposes Greater Goa
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, SEPT 28
Maintaining that Goa should maintain and protect its unique identity, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has underlined to protect Goa for the future generations and firmly opposed the idea of Greater Goa.
On the other hand, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal has said it has not taken any stand on the issue, saying the issue needs to be deliberated at length before taking any decision.
Close on the heels of CWC Member Luizinho Faleiro opposing the idea of Greater Goa, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha underlined the need to protect Goa for the future generations. “We are slowly loosing our identity. Already, it appears that Karwar is in Goa with the influx of outsiders. I appeal to Goans to protect Goa. When you get good higher price for your land, you sell and shout from roof tops that outsiders are buying land”, he said, adding and asserted that Goa needs to be protected for the future generations.
Opposing the idea of including Konkani speaking areas into Goa as mooted in certain quarters, including PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, Sardinha said “Goans should protect their own identity, while Karwaris should protect their identity”.
In a lighter vein, the MP said that the state now looks like Karwar with outsiders settling in the state and added “neither areas of other states should be included into Goa, nor Goa should be merged with other states”.
Meanwhile, Konkani Bhasha Mandal President, Prashant Naik has said the organization has not taken any stand on the demands made in certain quarters for inclusion of Konkani speaking areas of Karwar and Sindhudurg into Goa to make Greater Goa.
Mandal President, Prashant Naik said the KBM has not discussed the issue at all, adding that the issues need to be deliberated after taking into account the pros and cons.
He admitted that Bakibab Borkar and others had the dream that all Konkani speaking areas from Thane to Cochin along the country’s west coast should be merged into one to form a Konkani speaking state with Panjim as the Capital. “That was decades ago. Whether there is a change in the thinking on the issue has to be deliberated at length. Karwar people are demanding merger into Goa due to attack from Kannada activsts”, he said. “We cannot say what exactly is the stand of Goans on this sensitive issue. Let there be a debate on the issue”, he added.