Says change is possible only with a wise choice of govt
MARGAO
Former MLA Radharao Gracias on Friday said he sees no good future for Goa, given the way the present government is functioning. He said Niz Goemkars, who had fought to save Goa from merger with Maharashtra and to secure Konkani as the official language, are now leaving the State due to a lack of job opportunities.
Speaking at a function organised by Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott, Chandor, and the Konkani Bhasha Mandal at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, to mark Opinion Poll Day, Gracias said many Goans who once led the fight to protect Goa’s identity are now settling abroad, especially in the UK. He said it is a fact that those who fought to save Goa and Konkani are leaving the State and that he does not see any future for Goa with the way the government is functioning.
He further stated that Goa is divided on religious lines. He said that whether people like it or not, there are two Goas — one Hindu and one Christian — and that Hindus decide while others are expected to follow. He claimed that during the Opinion Poll, the majority of Hindus supported merger with Maharashtra.
Gracias also said the idea that Goans are united beyond caste and religion is not true. He said that during the Opinion Poll, Hindus voted for merger, while Christians voted to retain Goa’s identity, and that during the language movement too, most Hindus supported Marathi as the official language.
Referring to employment issues, Gracias said many Christians are leaving Goa due to a lack of opportunities.
He claimed that Catholics are now rarely seen in government offices, including courts and Mamlatdar offices. He said that out of 11 judges appointed recently, not a single one is from the Christian community. He added that he is not saying the judiciary is anti-Catholic, but that Catholics seem to have become unfit, and that when people do not get jobs in their own state, they will naturally leave.
Opinion Poll stalwart Uday Bhembre, speaking at the same function, said he still has hope for Goa and that the situation can improve if people become wise and elect a good government.
People of Cuncolim pledge fight against industrial pollution
MARGAO: A group of people from Cuncolim on Friday took a pledge at the bust of Opinion Poll stalwart Shabu Desai to fight pollution caused by units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. The gathering paid floral tributes to the late leader and remembered his role in the Opinion Poll movement. A jyot procession was taken from the Shree Shantadurga Kunkallikarin Temple at Fatorpa as part of the observance.
Those present included Konkani Academy president Purnanand Chari, Cuncolim Municipal chief officer Vimod Dalal, councillor Mariano Soares, Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Committee president Oscar Martins, Shabu Desai’s son and councillor Vishal Desai, former CMC vice-chairperson Shashank Desai and social activist Aviraj Desai.
Speaking on the occasion, Purnanand Chari said Cuncolim has an important place in Goa’s history due to its role in the Liberation movement, the Opinion Poll and social movements. Shashank Desai highlighted pollution from the industrial estate and said people would fight the issue together. Aviraj Desai said residents would oppose pollution from existing units and prevent the proposed fish meal plant outside the estate.
