Port city unofficially gets a new name in new ration card
VASCO: If you happen to receive a new ration card in Vasco, do not be surprised if you find yourself located in “Sambhaji”.
In what has stirred a major controversy in the port town, a number of residents have been outraged to find their ration cards stating their address as “Sambhaji (Vasco-da-Gama)”.
The angry residents have sought to know how the Civil Supplies Department had added the name “Sambhaji” before Vasco-da-Gama, when all their documents, including the Aadhar and voter cards, had only Vasco-da-Gama as their place of residence.
Furious with the insertion of “Sambhaji” as their place, a group of residents from Non-Mon in Vasco confronted Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Deepak Naik and sought an explanation from him.
Naik was caught unaware, until one resident, Estefania Pereira from Non-Mon Dempo Bhat, produced her new ration card which clearly showed the insertion of “Sambhaji” as a place, with Vasco-da-Gama placed in brackets.
Naik could not believe this anomaly and was of the opinion that Civil Supplies officials may have taken down the name from her old ration card.
Anticipating this explanation, Pereira then promptly pulled out her old ration card to confirm that there was no such mention of the place “Sambhaji”.
Naik then informed the agitated residents that the Civil Supplies Department did not have the right to change the name of a place without the knowledge and approval of the local MLA and the MMC.
The residents then informed Naik that they would raise this issue with Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida on Tuesday, before marching to the Civil Supplies office at Vasco to demand the cancellation of “Sambhaji” from their ration card.
Later speaking to The Goan, Naik assured to take up the issue with South Goa MP Narendra Savaikar and also with Almeida.
“We are directly involved with the people and the Civil Supplies officials cannot add or change the name of a place of their own free will without consulting us,” said Naik.
When contacted, Vasco MLA brushed aside the issue, “Someone is playing mischief and is planning to malign my government.”
But when brought to his notice about “Sambhaji” being added to new rations cards, Almeida declined to comment.
Vasco Civil Supplies Inspector Jennifer Fernandes when asked if there was any notification directing them to insert “Sambhaji” along with Vasco-da-Gama said, “We did not have any such notification, but the addition of the name “Sambhaji” has been done through the office of Civil Supplies."
Director of Civil Supplies Vikas Gaunekar had this to say: “The name Sambhaji Nagar was done as per the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the changes were done in 2012.”
“During the national census 2012, the RGI in its system had mentioned that Sambhaji Nagar is also the official name of Vasco-Da-Gama and since the system has been digitized, the name “Sambhaji” was also mentioned along with Vasco-Da-Gama on the ration cards,” Gaunekar added.
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RESIDENTS SMELL A RAT,
THREATEN TO AGITATE
Refusing to accept the inclusion of “Sambhaji” instead of Vasco-da-Gama, residents in Vasco have suspected that vested interests are out to cause tension in Vasco and they have threatened an agitation if “Sambhaji” replaces the name of Vasco-da-Gama.
“Several years ago, the Goa government had changed the name from Vasco-Da-Gama to Sambhaji Nagar. However, residents had strongly objected to the name Sambhaji Nagar in place of Vasco-Da-Gama, forcing the government to drop the name Sambhaji Nagar,” recalled Kelly Fernandes of New Vaddem.
“The name of our city Vasco-Da-Gama is famous the world over and it also has historic importance. The addition of the name Sambhaji will not be accepted by the people and we urge the Goa government to delete the name Sambaji, while retaining only Vasco-Da-Gama,” added Fernandes.
Another resident, Shyam Naik of Baina, alleged that attempts were being made by politicians with fundamentalist leanings to disturb the peace and tranquility of Vasco city.
“At the Centre the MPs have been making hate speeches and they have divided the communities. Such type of politicians are now trying their luck in Goa and the people of Goa and Vasco will not keep quite. We will come out on the streets if the name Sambhaji is not withdrawn immediately,” warned Naik.
NCP State President and former minister Jose Philip D’Souza accused the BJP of exposing its hidden agenda of converting India into a Hindu nation.
“Whether it is the civil supplies department or the Registrar of India, one cannot change or add a name to the city without taking the people into confidence,” said D’Souza.
“The BJP government at the Centre and in the state should immediately rectify their mistake to avoid the wrath of the people,” D’Souza added.
