Minister Sudin
Dhavlikar in the Assembly yesterday said that Portugal must first apologise to
Goa for mercilessly ruling over Goans.
He also appreciated the role of Bharat of ousting the Portuguese from
Goa because of which he said he and his colleagues are become legislators in
Goa.
For the kind
information of Dhavlikar, an MGP product, if he and others are enjoying the benefit of
legislators in Goa, the credit should go to Dr. Jack de Sequeira for leading
the fight to get victory in the Opinion Poll 50 years back. Sudin Dhavlikar’s Maharastrawadi Gomantak
Party under its anti-Goan boss Dayananda Bandodcar wanted to liquididate the
identity of Goa by merging Goa with Maharastra and if they had to get the
victory, there would not be Legislative Assembly in Goa. In this case, Sudin Dhavlikar and all the
legislators would not be legislators. Hence, it was the anti-mergerists who are
responsible to make Dhavlikar and others as legislators.
Secondly, though I
disapprove of the colonialisation of Goa by the Portuguese, yet I see from the
historical point of view that the Portuguese did not invade Goa just as India
did on 19.12.61 but they were invited to take the possession of Goa by the then
rulers of Goa because the local non-Christian people were fighting among
themselves.
Many of the woes of Goa
were the making of Portuguese dictator Salazar whose persecution was faced even
by the Portuguese citizens in Portugal which was worse than what our elders have faced. If it was not for the Portuguese we in Goa
would be practicing some of the
worst cruel practices. It was Portuguese that gave us Goans certain
decency and life standard which was absent in other parts of India. In 1961 December the living standard of Goans
was much higher than that of average Indians elsewhere beyond the boundaries of
Goa. Today if we as Goans admired and liked by the other Indians and foreigners
it is only because of the discipline and manners inculcated in us by the
Portuguese. This discipline and manners are still missing in other Indians. If today tourists from India and abroad are coming
to Goa it is only because of the peaceful atmosphere existing in Goa inherited
from Portuguese rule and also to enjoy the fusion of Western and Eastern
cultures existing in Goa due to Portuguese rule. I am grateful to Portuguese for
this good influence though I repeat that I disliked their colonialism of my
Goa.
If any Portuguese has
to apologise to genuine Goa lover Goans like me then it must be the then
Foreign Minister of Portugal Mario Soares for signing the surrender treaty of
Goa to Bharat without consulting us, the
Goans. Mario Soares acted worse than the dictator Salazar. Secondly, it is the
Mahastrawadi Gomantak Party of Sudin Dhaulikar that has to apologise for Goans
for trying to liquidate Goa’s identity, culture, language and tradition by merging Goa with Maharastra.
While we are blaming
the Portuguese can we ask ourselves how different are we now under the Bharati
rule? Goans are treated now like third
grade citizens of India. Our tails are
held tightly by the Delhi Central government.
If we want something good for our Goa the Central government refuses
forcing us to come on to the streets.
See one major demand of Goans that is Special Status for Goa is denied
for us for so long by both the Congress and BJP. There is no law and order in Goa as it was
during the Portuguese regime. The
governments of Goa and India are harping on the hoax of democracy but I ask
what is the use of democracy if you have
no basic life amenities such as life security, employment facilities, equal
social status etc.? Indian system is
discriminatory while Portuguese not, for this reason Portuguese gave us the
same facilities as to their own citizens.
After analysing
everything, I feel we were better off and better treated during the Portuguese
regime but not now. Now Goa is plundered in all sides by the Indians coming
from all over India. Earlier it was not like that. Now under Bharati rule Goa is administered
and ruled by the third grade administrators and rulers who are looting Goa like
hell. An average Goan now is not happy with the rule of Goans as well as of Central
rulers. They are not good for the cause
of Goa and Goans but they are good for themselves and for their nearest and
dearest. I dislike this Bharat for all
the ills it created in Goa but do not accept the Portuguese colonialism. Neither I like the colonialism of Goa by New
Delhi.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.
