To Goanet - As usual there is a disconnect between what actually transpired and what/how it is reported.
While I did not see the telecast, I am given to understand that some of the portions I thought were important were edited out. In particular, the segment where I said that Goans must demand special status for Goa. ps: Saligao villagers are finally waking up to the ghati invasion. Time for other villages to take the cue. pps: I hear a housing board in a Bardez village is awarding plots to ghatis (read, someone is shoring up his vote bank). Can Goans spell "suicide" ? Regards, r > Unchecked migrant influx will erase identity: Khalap > > > PANJIM, APRIL 19- Former Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Ramakant Khalap said > that the massive influx of migrants into Goa will soon turn it into another > Singapore, where one hardly gets to see an indigenous Singaporean; the same > could happen here. > > Speaking at a debate on 'The Goan Identity' organised by HCN, a 24-hour news > and entertainment channel, advocate Khalap said such massive migration to > Goa must be checked, or the identity and culture of our past generations > will be lost forever. > > "We cannot allow migrants, who are coming in alarming proportions, to > convert Goa into a slum," he said, pointing out that they had acquired > ration cards and residence certificates, and are being used as vote banks by > politicians who are giving them the benefits of social security schemes. > > Dr Rajan Parrikar, a Goan who has lived in the United States of America for > over 20 years, said that the Goan identity is unique and is found nowhere > else in India. He lamented that undesirable filthy-rich outsiders are > cutting hills and putting up huge constructions. Goans have lost their souls > and accomplished nothing, he said, calling on the government to enact a law > that will prevent non-Goans from acquiring property in Goa. > > Advocate Jos Peter D'Souza said that a large number of Goans live in Mumbai. > Earlier they came each year to their homeland by boat during vacations, when > everyone spoke in Konkani. After relocating to Goa in 1971, he ensured that > all his five children were enrolled in the village shalla and did their > primary education in Konkani. > > Speaking about anti-Goans he said that some Russians came to him for legal > advice to set up an institute to teach youngsters to work in casinos, But he > refused, as their motive was to change the culture of Goa. Such persons can > be called anti-Goans, he said. > > Dr S K Dubey, Dr G N Mishra and Juino De Souza participated in the debate. > It will be telecast on HCN channel today (Sunday) at 10.30 am. > > > http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=2861&cid=2 > > >
