MARGAO
Asserting that the Uniform Civil Code is applicable in Goa only because the coastal state did not merge with Maharashtra during the historic Opinion Poll, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday demanded that BJP government recognize the Opinion Poll day officially and celebrate the day as a state function.
He further said he would move a Private Member’s resolution in the forthcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly to commemorate Opinion Poll day as an official day.
Saying that the BJP is trying to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the country citing Goa as an example, Sardesai said the Uniform Civil Code would not have existed in Goa had Goa decided to merge with neighbouring Maharashtra in the historic 1967 Opinion Poll.
Addressing the Opinion Poll day program at the Ravindra bhavan, Margao organized by Goemkar, Ek Pavl Ekcharachem, Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir, the Goa Forward chief said, “If Goa was merged, then Uniform Civil Code would have not been applicable here. It would have been a small region of Maharashtra. UCC is now on the agenda of BJP government at the centre, and they use Goa as an example to show its importance. There is no other state where UCC is active. Hence, this double engine government should recognise ‘Opinion Poll Day’ and give importance to it,” Sardesai said, adding that the UCC is applicable in Goa only because Goans voted against merger in 1967.
He added: “Goa has a unique identity as Portuguese ruled the state for 450 years. As Goa, we have our own history. We got liberation much later after India got independence. Hindu, Christian and Muslim stay together here and we never witness communal riots. This uniqueness is because of our history. To protect this identity our people voted against the merger. We had a comprehensive victory that prevented our state merging in Maharashtra,” he said.
Sardesai praised the stalwarts who contributed to protect the identity of Goa. “We have an independent identity because of this fight. It’s the only referendum of India,” he said. “After getting liberated in 1961, then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru told the state leadership that for next ten years Goa will remain as Union Territory. But Maharashtrwadi Gomantak Party was so keen to hastily merge Goa into Maharashtra. Hence they started the process in 1963, but still we got victory. Though it has importance this government doesn’t want to recognise the day”, Sardesai said, adding that the party which wanted to merge Goa is now running the government.
