Salutes Dr Jack de Sequeira and son Erasmo
Prajal: Marathi proponents should go to Maharashtra
Salutes Dr Jack de Sequeira and son Erasmo
THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
Stating that January 16 is the most important day in the history of Goa, noted historian Prof Prajal Sakhardande said he salutes Dr Jack Sequeira and his son Erasmo Sequeira, who were hugely instrumental in the victory for the anti-merger camp during the Opinion Poll, due to which Goa’s unique identity is still maintained.
“We are entering the 50th year of the Opinion Poll,” he informed and called upon the gathering to commemorate 2016-17 as the golden jubilee year.
Speaking at a function organized by Konkani Kala Kendra, Merces, to commemorate the Opinion Poll Day near Merces Church, Sakhardande further said the 44 per cent who voted in favour of Goa’s merger with Maharashtra were traitors who tried to betray the motherland.
Sakhardande also recalled the huge contribution made during the Opinion Poll by leaders like Uday Bhembre, Ulhas Buyao, Purshottam Kakodkar, Victoria Fernandes, Shankar Bhandari and others.
Sakhardande then took a dig at the MGP who he said did not have any right to suggest Goa’s merger with Maharashtra.
“Our forefathers spoke in Konkani, which is our mother tongue, and not Marathi,” he further said while criticizing those who want Marathi to be made the official language of Goa and suggested that these people should go to Maharashtra.
Speaking on the need for a special status to the State, Sakhardande said everybody wants to settle in Goa which cannot be allowed to happen as it would dilute Goa’s unique identity. He then appealed to those wanting to settle abroad not to leave Goa.
Sakhardande also took a dig at the BJP government for declassifying coconut as a tree and termed January 14, 2016, as the darkest day in the State’s history when the Act was passed to favour the builder lobby.
He also criticized the decision of the government to bring in the Investment Promotion Board, which he said will override the Regional Plan and the TCP Act, thereby bringing doomsday upon Goa.
Speaking on the occasion, parish priest of Merces Fr Britto Furtado appealed to the Goans not to be shy to speak in Konkani language, which is the identity of Goans. He also stated that the need of the hour is not just to organize functions every year to remember Dr Jack Sequeira, but to live by his ideals.
Doming Caitan Fernandes of Bondir-Santa Cruz was felicitated on the occasion for closely working with Dr Sequeira during the Opinion Poll.
Dr Jack Sequeira's daughter Lily Sequeira, Fr Miranda, Konkani Kala Kendra president Sebastiao Fernandes and others were present on the occasion.
As part of the function, a Konkani songs programme was also organized, where artistes like Marcus Vaz, Seby de Divar, Divya Naik, Anthony San, Assenca Fernandes, Lawry Travasso and others rendered Konkani songs.
