Special Status for Goa - A must
The recent utterances by Pranab Mukerjee and Nitin Gadkari that there is
no provision in the Constitution of India for Special Status, must not
only be condemned and rejected but taken very seriously by Goans. It
only confirms that the central parties and its leaders are not at all
bothered about Goans and their identity. Goa is too insignificant
for them and their only interest is to capture power with empty promises
and rule the state, which is clearly evident by their descending on Goan
soil, only during election time. Octogenarian Pranab Mukerjee, having
served decades in power, must gracefully retire from active politics and
devote time to his other interests like Poetry, so that a young
generation of new politicians will emerge, to better understand the
needs and aspirations of our State and its future.
It is a shame that not even one of our 40 MLAs, has the guts to refute
such remarks, which is an insult to Goans. However, bravo to our MP,
Shantaram Naik, who alone has the courage and rightly pointed out, that
Special status is possible, by bringing in Constitutional amendment. It
is time to tell the central leaders that they would be unwelcome to Goa,
if the demand for Special status is ignored, in spite of the unanimous
resolution adopted by the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Constitutional changes become necessary with the advent of time and
therefore we elect parliamentarians to do the job. How and why, in
number of instances constitutional amendments and ordinances are rushed
to protect the rich and powerful, bypassing existing laws and even
Supreme Court verdicts; can Pranab Mukerjee or Nitin Gadkari explain
to the people of Goa ?
The basic tenets of a Constitution is to safeguard the ethnic identity
and well being of its people. In a vast country like India with diverse
culture and ethnicity, it is all the more imperative, to protect its
minorities from being displaced. For this reason, many smaller Indian
states like, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc.
are protected by granting Special status under the very same Constitution.
Goa, being one of the tiniest states of India, with very limited land
resource, sensitive ecology and a small ethnic population, which in the
last 50 years is dwindling below the ‘community survival ratio’, (around
1 birth for every 2 deaths) makes it a fit case to demand Special
status. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru rightly stated
that Goa’s unique identity must be preserved.
While more than half the damage is already done, Special status remains
the only alternative to safeguard our scarce agricultural and forest
lands from the multinational companies who are out to convert our
villages, hills, forests and urbanise the entire state. Land ownership
is fast changing hands and if this trend continues, Goans will soon be
wiped out only to be recorded in history books.
The first demand for Special Status was made by none other than Matanhy
Saldanha in 2004 under Goa’s Movement for Special Status. Subsequently,
this issue has become popular, gaining momentum during last 2 elections
and in this particular election, is on every party’s manifesto. The
unanimous resolution passed by the Goa Assembly is a strong case and
must be pursued by the new Goverment relentlessy with the Centre, and
this can happen only if our elected represenatatives are sincere, honest
and committed to this great cause for Goa’s identity and survival.
Goans won the first battle to safeguard its unique identity at Opinion
Poll. It is crucial time to stand unitedly once again for its very
survival. Where there is a will there is way.
Geraldo Oliveira
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Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve
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