MARGAO
Politicos from minority Saxtti, where a Portuguese passport is considered a gateway to Europe, including UK, Scotland and Ireland, seemed treading a cautious path on the contentious issue of revocation of Indian passports in the event the holders register their births in Portugal.
The issue is expected to put the ruling BJP on the back foot in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, for the simple reason that it offers a handle for the opposition to attack the ruling dispensation ahead of the crucial polls. For, not just members of the minorities, but people cutting across religious and caste communities now look forward to avail the Portuguese passport facility for educational and employment purpose.
Salcete’s newly-inducted lone Minister in the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Alexio Sequeira preferred to play safe on the issue, saying he has not studied the issue and its ramifications. “I have no comment to offer on the issue since I have not gone into the details till date”, Sequeira remarked.
Congress South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said he will seek the exact legal position before offering any comment. “Let me first find out and study the issue. I will seek advice from legal persons before officially writing a letter to the concerned Minister on the issue”, Sardinha said.
Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai, however, has been fortnight in saying the issue is not only legal but has socio-economic ramifications for the people of Goa, more so when the state cannot offer jobs for the unemployed as evident by the fact that Goa is now topping the list of unemployed states in the country. “Legality cannot come in the way of ensuring that Goans get better educational and employment facilities abroad. I understand the plight of our Goan youth who cannot afford to pursue education abroad since it is unaffordable. Secondly, Goa government has been a failure to create employment opportunities, resulting in the fact that Goa now tops as the unemployed state in the country. If a Portuguese passport meets the needs of education and employment of our youth, the double engine BJP government should remove all hurdles and allow our youth to take advantage of the facility left behind by the Portuguese’, he said.
Sardesai added: Portuguese passport is a benefit meant exclusively for the people of Goa. Why not our youth avail the benefit to pursue education and get employment in Europe? The Goa government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant cannot take shelter of the fact that it is a legal issue. It is the government’s responsibility to take up the issue as a socio-economic issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had welcomed ex-Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa with Viva Portugal”.
Former two-time MP Churchill Alemao said the government at the Centre and in Goa should remove all hurdles that come in the way of Goan youth availing benefit of the Portuguese passport for the purpose of employment. ‘A Portuguese passport is the gateway to Europe. Our youth do not go to Europe with the Portuguese passport to settle down, but for the sole employment purpose. The remittances sent back by our people have helped give a boost to our economy”, he said.
Demanding that the Goan MPs should vociferously take up the issue with the Centre and in Parliament, Churchill made a fervent plea to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove all hurdles in the way of Goans going abroad with the Portuguese passport for the purpose of employment. “Many parents must have registered their births in Portugal for the reason that it would help their wards gain entry into Europe to take up employment. It would be unfair if their Indian passports are revoked by the government”, he added.
