Provocation is fine as long as it is going to get useful results. It's your privilege not to believe that Goa was liberated and that Goa was annexed. These points are now academic. The reality is that Goa is now an integral part of India. It is impossible for people to change Goa's fortunes.
I am not going to debate the gains or losses of Goa's liberation or, if I may say so, Goa's freedom. I have studied Goa's liberation case in good detail. It is true that the Indian Supreme Court followed international jurisprudence in coming to its conclusion that Goa was annexed. You cannot compare Goa's case with that of Bangladesh. Indian forces helped the Bangladesh revolutionaries gain independence from Pakistan. In military terms it was a big gain for India to have a separate entity called Bangladesh. I will spare the details as to how India has now made itself secure from any possible attacks by Pakistan from two flanks. I know the UN resolution and all that followed after Indian forces marched into Goa. It would have been a wise decision on the part of Portugal if Salazar had given the option of referendum to Goans. Or, gone away like the French who quietly departed from Pondicherry. International opinion did go against India regarding taking over Goa. However, India had the backing of US and Russia. The support from these two countries mattered. Nehru would not have embarked on a military mission if JF Kennedy had not given an okay, even though Portugal was a member, like the US, of NATO. Everything is okay in hindsight. That Salazar wanted to give Goa into the hands of Goans is an excuse to win sympathy from Goans. If he wished, he would have done it earlier. He saw the writing on the wall and Salazar felt he could save his face by handing Goa over to Goans. Goa is not "spoils of war". India believed Goa was part of India and, hence, acted in the manner it did -- liberating it from foreign forces and reuniting it with India. The Indian Navy got Dabolim Airport. So, what's wrong with it? Goans still unhappy with Goa's freedom harp on the theme that Nehru promised to keep Goa's cultural and social identity. it was his vision that was later forgotten by the prime ministes who followed him. In politics, nothing is sacrosanct. Since you are a politician you should know that.. Forget the past and concentrate on the present. Get your Su Raj party to form a government and shape Goa in your vision. It would be your victory, and Goa would be once again liberated from the evil forces that have it in its grip. The challenge for you is to get into power. Once in the saddle, you can then fight the central government for "special status". The freedom fighters did what they wanted to do. It was their mission and they succeeded. As much as you call them "prostitutes", they, in turn, can call those who supported Portuguese rule as "pimps" of the Portuguese. It's a game of name-calling. There are no winners and there are no losers. So, Goans like me have no "Goan Balls"? If you and those like you have them, then please showcase them in one of Goa's museums. Are they "golden" or made of "brass" and do sparks fly when they clash? If sparks do fly, the Portuguese could hear back and come running to your aid. I pity you for not only living a "lie" but also living in a fool's paradise. Eugene Correia PS: Yes, Lawrence I am the same Eugene Correia.
