To, GOANET
Recently Luizinho Faleiro was elevated as General Secretary of All India Congress, who was former Chief Minister of this State and ex- President of Goa Congress, said that our earlier leaders without naming them, made great mistakes. When Goa was liberated in 1961 they could have fought for protection of our land and seeking for special status besides financial packages and protection of our tribes and customs, but they were engrossed in the merger of Goa with Maharastra. He also said that we had already lost 5-year plans and development. Their priorities were lopsided and they believed that Marathi was the language of Goa and as such, Goa should be merged with Maharastra. Rather than fighting for special status, they took up the language issue so as to facilitate merger Goa with Maharastra. They lost foresight and vision. Now, the present leaders are trying for special status, although late but hopefully we may succeed and said it is his duty to use his position as central level congress official to help the state in whatever manner we could provide his help was sought. He mentions that seven N-E states under his charge enjoy special status, because they never lost their vision and they fought to retain their identity. They have also even protected their land by getting them and their traditions included in the sixth and seven schedule of the constitution of India. The important thing that the Goa Govt. should fight is for special financial package besides special status and we have to pursue it, in view of the mining problem and needs to develop the state. As far as ownership and transfer of land, Faleiro feels that most of the land has already changed hands or sold. Already damage has taken place. He felt that the special status should have been sought at that time, we could have been in better position to protect our land. Faleiro says, being taken the new assignment as General Secretary to look after Goa desk, it is his responsibility to help Goa state as it is his place of living and that he will do it, if the leaders in Goa approach him for help at the central level for special status and financial packages from the Central Government. Stephen Dias , D.Paula
