SPEPCIAL STATUS for Goa has been rejected by the Central government ruled by BJP and headed by Premier Narendra Modi who during the last electioneering in Goa assured SS to Goa. However, this SS request has been rejected by the Modi government on the grounds that it is unconstitutional though such requests elsewhere in India has been granted but why not for Goa? If it is not feasible to grant, why Modi blindly promised SS to Goa? Is he a mad man to give false promises? If yes then how Indians can rely on him? To get votes from Goans for his party he should not give false promises and thereby lower the dignity of Premier of India. In view of this, how the world leaders whom he is meeting in India and abroad will trust him? I think it is a shame for India to have such an untrustworthy premier at the helm of affairs.
After Modi government came to power at the Center, Parrikar confidently made a statement saying that he will have no need to go to Delhi to get his demands approved but just he will speak over the telephone to Modi and get the needful done. But, now in the case of SS demand after rejecting by Modi government he aasured Goans that he will go to Delhi shortly to discuss this issue with the Premier Modi. It is now surprising that why Parrikar as stated earlier cannot get this demand telephonically? Is there any rift cropped up between CM and PM for this reason the PM rejected Parrikar’s demand to humiliate him in front of Goans thereby putting the Goans into inconvenience? Besides, what stops Parrikar from enacting a legislation that prevents outsiders from buying Goan land? According to experts, State government is also empowered to deal with this subject as per the wishes of Goans but unfortunately Parrikar is hiding this subject.
It is now confirmed beyond any doubt that both the PM and CM are liars who by telling lies to the Goan voters got both the BJP candidates elected. According to one source, our demand papers had some flaws. If it was the case, why an expert advice was not sought by Parrikar before drafting our demand? And why in this case Modi did not return the papers for correction? Was it that difficult to do this?
One thing is certain, Goans in general have lost their confidence in Parricar to do anything good to Goa and Goans. By the time the SS issue is sorted out, Goa will be filled with more and more non-Goans who will purchase Goan land and erect their own settlements. I think this is what Parricar wants to degoanise Goa and thus silence the voice of Goans for SS.
By the way, is SS demand a correct demand by the Goans? Or better still Autonomy? Or still more better the demand for outright independence since Nehru as promised failed to conduct the referendum on this after he forcibly annexed Goa to Bharat? According to one source, to close the case of Goa’s annexation once and for all, Nehru gave Opinion Poll to Goa thinking that MGP will win and Goa will be integrated with Maharastra thus liquidating Goa from the Map. But our victory in the Opinion Poll has surprised the Central leadership and kept the Goa’s issue open for further necessary action.
Goa’s case is totally different from the other territories in India because at the time of India’s independence Goa was not a part of India. Goa was invaded by India much later without the consent of Goans. One of the renowned Indian leaders Morarjee Desai opposed Goa’s invasion, so too Mahatmah Gandhi earlier when he was alive after India’s independence. Without giving heed to the saner counsel, Nehru invaded Goa dubbing it as Liberation and thereby imposing Indian citizenship on Goans against their wishes. I am an Indian citizen not by my own choice but by force imposed from Delhi without my consent.
In view of this, will it be wrong for Goans to demand total independence for Goa to avoid step motherly treatment to Goa which was not done even during the Portuguese time when Goa was given much better treatment. Though it sounds difficult yet there is no harm in placing this demand before the Government of India very decently and very peacefully. India being a topmost democratic country, will surely give a keen hearing to this demand. Can we try by raising our voice in this direction? If by raising this issue we will not get anything then by remaining silent will we gain anything?
Finally, those politicians who gave promises of resigning from their posts if their demand of SS is rejected, now, if they are real sons and real daughters of their real fathers then they will submit their resignations and honour their words.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim,
Goa.