Goa Liberation year long celebrations It is an academic exercise whether Goa was anexed or liberated. Goans know well who are real freedom fighters and pseudo ones. Many have claimed benefits who were mere students others who were smugglers jailed and those who were certified as freedom fighters for a fee Real freedom fighters did not seek doles,pensions ,neither for themselves nor families. Their sacrifices were their patriotic pride and honour. Those few who qualified never claimed pensions,since it would destroy the purpose.Those jailed for nefarious activities passed off as freedom fighters in the absence of credible infor mation and authentic records unavaiable It is disgraceful that freedom fighters irrespective of their economic plight are clamouring for employment and other benefits for their kit and kin. Ad a matter of right . I WONDERS how long after liberation in 1961 new freedom fighters are discovered and there is no end in sight as of now .Did freedom fighters like Nehru, Gandhi ever dreamt of pensions not even as legislators .Do our so called freedom fighters even remotely compare themselves to such standards of patriotism Those who championed the cause of merger enjoy the best benefits of Goa as a state and and as separate identity. The opinon poll has assured our identity and those who championed the cause are not even in the reckoning. The mergerists adorn the place of honour in sacred space of Goa as a state.Forget about the so called nomenclature of being known as father of opinion poll but certainly Jack Sequeira worked for the opnion poll and today there is no public or political recognition and that is shameful In 60 years of liberation surely much has been done though much more remains to be to be done and improvement is never ending process .Politicians who vex eloquent were not even born forget about their contribution to Goa as a state.Some announcements have to be made periodically as routine but that is no solution to development How does year long celebration of liberation spending scarce resources will develop Goa? IT is a political gimmick to keep issue burning or in focus to fuel election advantage Instead of proposing a few pressing projects , marked for time bound completion by the year end. Mere celebrations and speeches are no solutions to the needs of Goa.The records of history are reposository of freedom struggle and freedom fighters and no amount of selective, motivated announcements will detract the truth by pseudo claimants.
Nelson Lopes. CHINCHINIM
