MARGAO
Retired Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Ferdino Rebello on Tuesday said the time has come for the people of Goa to pressurise the political parties to put up good candidates and accept the 10-point charter prepared by the Enough is Enough movement to save Goa.
Justice Rebello, however, expressed concern over the absence of the Goan youth in the movement launched to save the State for posterity.
Addressing representatives of NGOs from South Goa as part of an interactive exercise aimed at collecting suggestions and feedbacks from people fighting on the ground to save Goa, Justice Rebello said, “If the Cockroach Party of India through the social media could awaken India, why not a similar movement in Goa. What is the disconnect between the younger generation and the issues plaguing the State.”
Demanding to know how the Enough is Enough movement can rope in the youth to take the movement forward, he said the movement is planning to have a youth convention on October 2 to take the movement forward. “We have not been able to bridge the gap between the movement and the youth and we are in search for the answer,” he said.
While saying the time has come to pressurise the political parties to put up good candidates and not only accept the 10-point charter of demand, but get them approved if elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly, Justice Rebello, however, reiterated that the Enough is Enough movement is apolitical and will not support any parties or candidates in the elections. “We may help you to form your opinion, but we will not side with any political party nor support any candidates. You will have to select good youngsters and the young blood because new thoughts and fresh ideas should come how to save Goa. A new culture should develop in Goa,” he added.
Expressing concern what would happen to Goa in the next 20 years, Justice Rebello said that Goans did not fight to protect its identity, culture, language to become minorities in their own homeland.
“Even a sitting Supreme Court Judge remarked in the open court that we cannot allow Goa to be converted into Mumbai. I am happy that judges of the Apex court are feeling for Goa,” he said, but hastened to question ‘What are we doing for Goa’. Is it not our responsibility and duty to motivate our youth to join the movement since we are fighting today for the benefit of the future generations?”
Environmental activist Claude Alvares, Dr Ashish Kamat, Jack Mascarenhas, Govind Shirodkar and others spoke at the meeting and offered their suggestions.
