Eugene Correia: For Modi the journey from Gujarat to Delhi may be at hand. If he succeeds, it will undoubtedly be better for the BJP government in Goa. Modi's vaunted promise of special status, a trophy that Goans seek desperately, may indeed be fulfilled.
Response: Eugene betrays a lack of knowledge of ground realities. Special status for Goa to protect its unique culture will be a pipe dream under BJP rule. Just look at Kashmir. One of the main objects of the BJP over the years is the abrogation of Article 370 which gives Kashmir special status. The BJP believes and it is part of its ideology that minorities should live as second class citizens subjugated to the will of the majority Hindus. Goans should have fought for special status soon after 1961 when the issue was fresh in everyone's minds. Today, it is too late. The horse has already bolted. Unfortunately, lack of democracy under Portuguese rule emasculated the goans. They did not know how to exercise their democratic choice.They were babes in the wood in the world of real politick. Goa has not been able to throw up a leader of national standing barring Peter Alvares and Eduardo Faleiro who shone on the national scene for a brief while. Look at Mangalore who threw up leaders like P M D'Mello, Joachim and Violet Alva, Margaret Alva, Oscar Fernandes, George Fernandes, J M Lobo Prabhu. All influential people. Regards, Marshall
