On Sunday, the 14th of this month, at 10.30 AM, a protest meeting was held by the followers of the late Fr. Bismark under the banner of Musical Warriors, at Old Goa next to the monument of Gandhiji where it was quoted Gandhiji saying “Religions are different routes leading to the same destination”. Incidentally, all those who gathered there on behalf of Musical Warriors and their supporters according to my observation belonged to the different religions even the passers-by halting there to listen to what was spoken there.
Some of the tourists who gathered there were from Karnataka knowing not that this gathering was for stopping Parricar government from sharing River Madhei water with Karnataka thereby depriving Goans of their rightful share of water. Listening to the speeches by the speakers Dalvi and Kennedy, these Karnataka tourists expressed their view to me saying “you are right in fighting for your rights”.
The protest meet started with the speech of Dalvi expressing their purpose to gather there. Unfortunately, it is very sad that for every genuine demand of genuine Goans, the genuine Goans have to come on to the streets since peacefully nothing we Goans can get from our governments.
Our elders most of them were “Lembdde” of Bharati regime while others were ignorant and they were all shouting at the top of their voices with happiness and joy on 19th December 1961 and later on that we now got the democracy and the dictatorship is consigned to the fire once and for all. But according to me where is democracy in Goa? We are still fighting for our rights from the new Salazar in the name of Parricar who is worse than the real Portuguese Salazar who being a dictator still gave keen hearing to the Goan voice while this new Goan Salazar is listening only to the Delhi and Karnataka BJP voice.
Portuguese Salazar protected the interest of all Goans while Goan Salazar killed the Goan interests because he is an anti-Goan and anti-Christian while Portuguese Salazar was pro-Goan and genuine secular for this reason he gave the facility of Portuguese Passport for all Goans irrespective of their religions and not for Christians only. For this reasons children and grand children of those who were hating Salazar and Portugal are now enjoying the benefit of Portuguse Passport.
Kennedy in his speech explained the importance of Madhei river Water for Goans and why we should protect it for us. He also participated in musical items like playing the guitar and singing songs along with others such as Saby and Roshan while violonist Parab coming from Bombay where he plays for Bollywood Films. Being a non-Goan, he strongly supports our cause and even in the future if he is available, he promised to participate in this movement.
Among the politicians, only one that is, Reginald of Congress Party participated while as somebody asked jokingly “all others died”? Where is the maker of “Goem-Goemkar-Goemkarpon” gone? Goans must know that goan proverb “Zogzogta titleim bhangar nhoi mhonn”.
The slogans given durng the meet were as;Amchem Goem Amkam zaem. Amchem udok amkam zai. Amchi Madhei Amkam zai. Etc.
Around 12 noon the protest ended but innumerable people witnessed it and its makers.
A.Vronica Fernandes.
A.Vronica Fernandes.