This refers to 'Will Portugal shut door on Goans? Embassy moots end to citizenship' (TGE, March 2). As per the report, a Portuguese news website has revealed that the Portuguese Embassy has submitted a proposal to its government which aims to cease granting citizenship to Goan residents born before December 20, 1961, and their descendants. The intention behind this move is to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and address legal disputes surrounding the ongoing dual citizenship predicament.
I sincerely hope that the BJP hasn't coerced the Portuguese Embassy into making such a proposal. It's concerning if they're exploiting the dual citizenship issue to further their own divisive politics in Goa. It's well-known that BJP leaders aim to keep Goan Catholics marginalised by denying them government jobs based on their religion. They seem intent on perpetuating the suffering of this community, which historically tends to oppose the BJP due to various factors in Goa. Now, they appear determined to inflict further hardship on them.
If the Portuguese government were to accept this proposal under pressure from BJP's central leadership, it would spell disaster for Goan Catholics. Obtaining Portuguese citizenship is often seen as a pathway to employment opportunities in the wealthier regions of the European Union. Without it, Goan Catholics would face significant obstacles in pursuing opportunities abroad. We can only hope that divine intervention safeguards the future of our Goan community.
