Sudin calls for revolution to close down Portuguese Consulate
Says 1.5 lakhs have become citizens of Portugal
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has appealed to Goans to start a revolution to close down the Portuguese consulate in Goa, else Goa could lose its Goenkarponn (Goan identity).
Dhavalikar was speaking on the Revolution Day programme at Kranti Maidan-Ponda, in the presence of Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar, Additional Collector Johnson Fernandes, PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak, Vice Chairperson Shantaram Kolvekar, freedom fighter and former MLA Rohidas Naik and others.
Dhavalikar saluted the martyrs of Goa’s freedom struggle by laying wreaths at Hutatma Smarak (Martyrs' Memorial) at Kranti Maidan-Ponda.
“Unless the Portuguese Consulate in Goa is closed and shifted to the national capital in Delhi, Goans will be unable to keep its Goenkarponn (Goan identity) intact,” he said.
The MG Party leader said some had felt that his statement of shifting the Portuguese Consulate to Delhi had been politically motivated.
“I don’t intend to do any politics. I am concerned about our Goans taking dual citizenship, which is not permitted under our constitution. If they want to stay in Portugal, they will have to renounce their citizenship of India,” Dhavalikar said.
“Every day, about 50 Portuguese passports are done. Almost 1.50 lakh Goans have become citizens of Portugul. This is the alarming number and should be curbed,” he said.
Reiterating his demand to shift the Portuguese Consulate to Delhi, Dhavalikar said, “We have to remember that many freedom fighters had sacrificed their lives to liberate Goa from Portuguese colonial rule. If we want to be proud of our martyrs and freedom fighters, then the Portuguese consulate in Goa should be closed.”
“This revolution (of closing down the consulate) should start from today. Otherwise, we will lose our identity,” warned the minister.
Freedom fighter Rohidas Naik also spoke on the occasion and supported the remarks of Dhavalikar to close down the Portuguese consulate in Goa. “Why do we need it in Goa? We are Indians, not Portuguese,” he said.
On the occasion, freedom fighters Vasant Khandeparkar and Antonio Fernandes were felicitated by Dhavalikar. A book 'Vrat- Gomant Swatantra Ladheache’ penned by freedom fighter Madhav Korde was also released.
