The contribution of our Saxttikars in the protection of Goa and Goanness was immense. From the time of freedom movement for Goa, the tallest Goan Feedom Fighters were from Salcette and moreover they were not communal, they involved in freedom movement to protect Goa as it was with all the characteristics intact without liquidating anything nor merging Goa with Maharastra with Marathi as official language. The degree of patriotism of Saxttikars towards Goa, as seen, was high.
After the invasion of Goa by Bharat under the leadership of Nehru on 19.12.1961 without the consent of Goans, the entire Salcette stood firmly behind the protection of Goa. The victory for Goans in the Opinion Poll was entirely due to the Salcette voters. The Konkani language movement got success mainly because of Saxttikars where our Ilhaskar brothers also suffered martyrdom leading to the granting of Statehood on Goa.
Saxttikars are known to be the strong followers of democratic norms. Following this principle they must now vote for the right candidates who will not align with any communal party especially the BJP or MGP to form the next government. In the past the Saxttikars, most of the time did vote for the right candidates. Now the Saxttikars will have to be extra cautious to elect the right candidates in the midst of most of the corrupt candidates contesting the next election from Salcette. Currently some of the candidates who merged with the ruling party BJP when they were not mandated by the voters to do the same, have done great injustice and betrayal to the voters. These candidates should be voted out in the coming election along with the habitual defectors known to be corrupt.
There are some candidates in Salcette who are contesting as Independents like Avertano Furtado but once elected they will jump into the ruling party for the receipt of the ministerial berths or any financial gains. By doing this they are committing a breach of trust posed in them by the voters who elected them as Independents to occupy their Seats in the Assembly as Independents only and not as "Baddeache Boil" in any party. In the last election the Independents were not given the mandate to sleep on the same bed with the BJP and commit adultery. This time Saxtikars must prevent these Independents acting like Prostitutes because during the last decade there are more political prostitutes in Salcette than anywhere in Goa. Voters must ask from these Independents publicly that they will remain as Independents only as per the wishes of the Voters.
A.Veronica Fernandes.