The statistics provided by some electronic and print media of the Opinion Poll of 1967 says it was the role played by the Salcete electorate with some pockets of North Goa in deciding against the merger of Amchem Goem with Maharashtra. Likewise later on, same was the case with Konkani language where again South Goans played a leading and crucial role in getting Konkani the official language status in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution, sacrificing 8 lives in the bargain.
If the Opinion Poll was decided in favour of the pro-mergerites, Goa would have become one of the districts of Maharashtra and Marathi the official language. Wiser counsels prevailed and in this regard we salute the fathers of the Opinion Poll like Dr Jack Sequeira, Purushottam Kakodkar and the likes who prevailed upon Nehru, Shastri and later Indira Gandhi who gave her final nod. Jai Opinion Poll... Jai Goa.
