16 January, 2014 GSRP demands naming new Dabolim infrastructure as 'Dr Jack Sequeira's International Airport' On the 47th Anniversary of the Goa's Opinion Poll, the Goa Su-Raj Party (GSRP) demands from both the State as well as the Centre that the new Dabolim infrastructure be named 'Dr Jack de Sequeira's International Airport' in remembrance of the effort and dedication of the Father of the Opinion Poll in protecting Goa's unique identity by not allowing it to merge with Maharashtra. Speaking on the demand which will be placed before the Chief Minister & Union Minister of Civil Aviation (MoCA) next week, Floriano Lobo, General Secretary & Chief Spokesperson, GSRP, expressed: "If it was not for Dr. Jack de Sequira's efforts to keep Goa as Goa by thwarting the merger approach of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) of Dayanand Bandodkar with the active connivance of Mrs. Indira Gandhi at the Centre, the then Prime Minister of India, Goa would be lost to Maharashtra lock, stock and barrel and the people of Goa would cease to be Goans. The new Dabolim airport infrastructure must be named after Dr Jack de Sequeira. This Party will aggressively pursue this demand." The Goa Opinion Poll was a referendum held on 16 January 1967, to decide the future of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu within the Indian Union. Although popularly called as the 'Oopinion Poll' , it was, in fact, a referendum, as the results of the poll were binding on the Government of India. The referendum offered the people of Goa a choice between continuing as a Union Territory or merging with the state of Maharashtra. It is the only referendum to have been held in independent India. The people of Goa overwhelmingly voted against the merger and Goa continued to be a union territory till 1987 when Goa became a full-fledged state within the Indian Union. "The United Goans Party [UGP] headed by Dr. Jack de Sequeira, also knew that if the issue was put to vote in the state assembly as planned, merger was a foregone conclusion. Merging Goa into another state was a monumentally absurd decision. Also the very future of the state and the identity of the Goan people was at stake. Therefore the UGP pressed for a people's referendum instead of a vote among the representatives; as was the norm in a Parliamentary democracy like India. Today, the Goa Su-Raj Party is fighting to retain Goa's identity amidst the chaos of the growing infuence and influx of migrant population into Goa. "The Youth of Goa must never forget the great effort made by Dr Sequeira in saving Goa for Goans " expressed Savio Rodrigues, Additional Secretary & President (Youth Affairs), GSRP. For further details Savio Rodrigues Additional Secretary & President (Youth Affairs) Goa Su-Raj Party Mob: 9764447313 Email: sa...@goachronicle.com
