The Constitution was implemented on 26th January 1950. We were not part of India then. We were liberated in 1961. So the Constitution which was passed and implemented, Goa was not included in it but in 1961 it was FORCED ON OUR HEADS and now you are telling us it is unconstitutional
— Capt Viriato Fernandes
Congress’ South Goa candidate
SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANAJI: Congress’ South Goa candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes’ statement that the “Indian Constitution was forced on our heads in 1961 has kicked up a storm in Goa.
While campaigning for the South Goa seat in the constituency, Capt Viriato was heard speaking about the dual citizenship issue he discussed with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Viriato said in 2019, when he was with Goencho Ekvott he was invited by then-GPCC president Girish Chodankar to meet Rahul Gandhi in Cidade de Goa.
“We placed 12 questions before Rahul Gandhi and one of them was we demanded dual citizenship for the citizens of Goa. Rahul asked us “Is it constitutional? I said no.” Then he said no discussion,” Capt Viriato explained the discussion.
I said, he continued, sir please listen “The Constitution was implemented on 26th January 1950. We were not part of India then. We were liberated in 1961. So the Constitution which was passed and implemented, Goa was not included in it but in 1961 it was FORCED ON OUR HEADS and now you are telling us it is unconstitutional”.
He added, “I told him that your grandfather, who was India’s first Prime Minister had given a speech on Azad Maidan saying the people of Goa will decide their destiny. But what we got was the opposite of it. Our destiny was decided by someone else.”
Rahul Gandhi then asked his OSD and said “he has a point” as when the Constitution was implemented Goa was not part of India, said Viriato.
“They did not make any provision for us. They gave Article 370 for Kashmir, which has been withdrawn recently, but nothing was done for Goans. So we want a provision. I will tell you why,” he said.
Vibrator says Goa’s sons of the soil take the offer of citizenship from Portuguese for employment purposes. “The sole purpose is hard work for family and livelihood. They are also sending us foreign exchange,” he said.
