Kannada Sahitya Parishad President Siddhanna Meti. Kannadigas attend a Karnataka Rajotsav celebration in Sancoale on November 2.
VASCO
The Goan: What prompted you to rake up this issue of being called ‘ghati’ suddenly now?
The Goan: What prompted you to rake up this issue of being called ‘ghati’ suddenly now?
Siddhanna Meti: This is not a sudden issue. It has been happening for many years, especially after the entry of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) into Goan politics. We did not realise it initially, but over time, RGP began targeting Kannadigas for political mileage. By portraying us as outsiders and criminals, they are trying to win over Goans while spreading hatred towards our community, even though we have always lived here peacefully.
Initially, we ignored it as an election stunt, but their anti-Kannadiga remarks continued even after they won one MLA seat. Later, they went on to target poor Kannadigas and their accommodations. When Anusha Lamani was recently elected as Sarpanch of Sancoale, RGP restarted their campaign, and the issue resurfaced. Anusha is an elected representative and deserves dignity for her position. When they began targeting her and other Kannadigas again, we had to take a stand before RGP exploited the issue for political gain, especially with elections approaching.
TG: Your statement has political overtones. Is your community intending to join the electoral fray in 2027 and flex its numerical strength in some constituencies?
TG: Your statement has political overtones. Is your community intending to join the electoral fray in 2027 and flex its numerical strength in some constituencies?
SM: No, we have no political ambitions. We are simply defending ourselves from being unnecessarily targeted. We don’t mind the term ‘Ghati’ because Goans have historically used it to describe people from the Ghats. It was never meant as an insult.
I once contested on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket along with Carlos Almeida for the 2007 Assembly elections. Carlos continued in politics and later became an MLA with the BJP, but I never contested again because I am not interested in politics.
Still, Kannadigas have played a crucial role in electing many MLAs as our population ranges from 2,000 to 8,000 votes in most constituencies. If our community continues to be targeted, we might have to take the plunge — either to win or to become the deciding factor in others’ victories.
Kannadiga leadership is not new to Goa. In the past, Ravi Gouda, Sharan Meti, and Sharda Lamani have all served as sarpanchas of Sancoale. This time, Anusha Lamani has been elected sarpanch after being chosen as panch, while her husband, Govind, has won from the same ward for three consecutive terms. This shows that our community has contributed significantly to local governance and deserves respect, not ridicule.
TG: Let’s wear the shoe on the other foot. What if Goans or any other ethnic group did the same in Karnataka?
TG: Let’s wear the shoe on the other foot. What if Goans or any other ethnic group did the same in Karnataka?
SM: I cannot think like that because such divisive thoughts have never crossed my mind or that of any Kannadiga. Many Goans study in some of the best colleges in Karnataka — in Belagavi, Dharwad, Hubli, and Bengaluru — but have you ever heard of them being attacked or insulted for being Goan? People in Karnataka have always welcomed them without any prejudice or name-calling.
RGP’s divisive politics are only meant to disturb Goa’s communal harmony. Look at Mangaluru — a city where temples and churches stand side by side, where Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Kannadigas, and Tulu-speaking Shettys live peacefully together.
We have many Hindus and Christians in Mangaluru who speak Konkani because their roots lie in Goa. They have lived there peacefully for generations, running small and large businesses without any trouble. In fact, several Hindus with Goan roots — whose family deities are in temples of Goa — own well-known establishments in Mangaluru.
TG: RGP President Manoj Parab says they are not against all outsiders but only those committing illegalities. What do you have to say?
SM: We have never asked Parab to favour or criticise us because he has no right to do so. Every community has a small section of people who may be involved in crime or anti-social behaviour. But that does not give anyone the right to generalise an entire community as criminals or portray them in poor light.
Our protest was never about defending wrongdoers — it was about standing against the generalisation of all Kannadigas as criminals just because of their names, language, or surnames.
Goa has always been known for its peace-loving nature and inclusivity, and we want to preserve that spirit. The Kannadigas have lived here for decades, contributed to its economy and culture, and deserve the same respect as every other Goan. We do not want conflict; we want coexistence based on equality and mutual respect.
