the goan I network
MAPUSA
Claiming that entering politics was not an option for the moment, Revolutionary Goans leader, Manoj Parab said the group’s main focus was to convince the government to adopt and pass the Person of Goan Origin (POGO) bill in the assembly.
He threatened to intensify the protest if the government fails to pass the bill in the current form in the assembly.
“We have no interest in politics as of now. If the government adopts the POGO bill and passes it in the House we don’t need to enter politics,” Parab told reporters, indicating that the option of joining politics was very much open.
He said the government was refusing to adopt the bill only because they fear that Revolutionary Goans may get huge support of the Goans.
“If the government fails to introduce the bill then our next step will be harsher. This is a warning to the government,” he said.
Parab said his group was holding several meetings all over the State to make people aware of the POGO bill and one such huge rally/meeting has been scheduled today at Chivar ground, Anjuna at 7 pm. A similar meeting held in South Goa in Benaulim had evoked good support for the group.
The Revolutionary Goans leader said that the meeting had to be held in a hurry as the government first dilly-dallied in issuing permission and finally gave a go-ahead at the last minute leaving them with very little choice.
Parab said that people have been spontaneously contributing to offset expenses of all their public and corner meetings. “People are giving us donations and some are coming forward to even sponsor certain things like the stage, sound system, etc,” he said.
He disagreed to the allegation that they were taking the law in their own hands as they have instructed their volunteers not to engage in any sort of violence. He also debunked the allegation of extortion against them by some rivals.
“Some anti-Goans are spreading canards against us, but Goans are well aware who is genuine and who is not,” Parab said.
