the goan I network
MARGAO
The politically powerful Gomantak Bhandari Samaj is now on a different mission “ to track down outsiders changing their surnames to Naik with the avowed objective of taking benefits meant for the state’s largest OBC community.
Gomantak Bhandari Samaj chief Ashok Naik along with the Salcete taluka president Dhananjay Mayenkar and others were in the office of the district sub-registrar to oppose the application made by a female to change her surname to Naik.
Suspecting foul play, the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj had filed its objection to the application filed by the woman. And, when the matter was scheduled to come up for hearing before the district sub-registrar on Monday, Ashok Naik and other leaders were all present in the office, only to find the applicant and her lawyer conspicuous by their
absence.
The Bhandari Samaj, however, has vowed to take the issue of outsiders’ changing surnames to its logical conclusion. Alarmed over the fact that around 16000-odd persons have changed their names into Naik over the years, the Bhandari Samaj has taken upon itself the task to challenge and object to applications moved by outsiders for change their surnames.
“Let me make clear that no one can change his or her surname unless they or their parents were born in Goa before 1968. The rush for change in surnames is only with an eye on the benefits available for the Bhandari Samaj and other OBC communities in the state,” he added.
Terming as “fraud” the applications made by outsiders for change in the surname to Naik, Ashok pointed out that outsiders from Karnataka and other states are coming to Goa to change their surnames to Naik.
The Gomantak Bhandari Samaj president made a fervent plea, not just to the members of the Samaj, but all other communities in the state to join hand and fight the battle against the sinister design by these outsiders to change their surnames with an eye on the various benefits.
“Around 16,000 persons from outside the state have already changed their surnames. At least now, we Goans should remain alert and foil attempts from outsiders to get Goan surnames,” Ashok said.
“In Goa, most of the persons with the Naik surname belong to the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj category and in order to avail benefits available for the
Naik community, people are frequently applying for change in their surnames to Naik. This should be strongly condemned,” he said.
