Goa is faced with a divisive colonial democracy and remnants of Fake Fighters who are constantly barking against the Portuguese. We have not moved on since 1961. How can good things happen to Goans with this attitude? What say you Dr. Jose Colaco? BC
This blinkered attitude makes no sense. Every few years, India makes another long-overdue overture in the direction of dual citizenship, but then narrow-minded anxieties force withdrawal. In the case of Goa, there is a pressing moral imperative which involves a simple birthright. But there's no logical explanation why all Indians should not enjoy the same privileges as the citizens of more than 60 other countries. Almost every major economic power in the world grants dual citizenship (so does Portugal). Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan allow it without any perceptible problems. India's stand is both unreasonable and outdated. A corollary positive development of the Akali Dal manifesto is Punjab's willingness to direct international policy initiative on its own terms. Again, Goa would do well to emulate. For too long Goan interests abroad have been unhelpfully routed via the Centre, which consistently and wilfully ignores the specific needs of the citizens of India's smallest state. In fact, there should be a Goa Sadan in Swindon, and a few more in the Middle East. Why isn't there a senior bureaucrat dedicated to serving the vast cohort of Goans working on ships around the globe? Ever since the annexation of Goa into India, on the worst possible terms for the Goans, there has been a reflexive impulse to meekly accept terms imposed by a largely uncomprehending and insensitive Delhi bureaucracy. But it has been 55 years. What does not work deserves to be corrected. Punjab has made it clear it does not intend to suffer for the quirks and shortcomings of the Indian state. There's no reason Goa can't do the same.
