The role of Goan expats in the affairs of the State came in for sharp questioning by Solid Waste Management Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. And this comes a day after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that funding of environmentalists would have to be looked into, giving broad indications of involvement of non-resident Indians.
Lobo spared no words to heap scorn at the expat community. “You are no longer Goans. You are Overseas Citizen of India, and hence you should be more interested in what’s happening in Portugal and London. Leave Goa to us, and we will take care of it,” was Lobo’s loud outburst. We beg to differ. Perhaps Lobo must flip through the pages of Goa’s history first before making such outrageous statements. Our freedom struggle was fought by several leaders from outside the State and some even from abroad. If we may recall, out of the 73 freedom fighters who were jailed and subsequently martyred during the fight for freedom, a majority of 38 hailed from outside Goa. There were people from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and even one from Bangladesh. Meetings were held in neighbouring Pune and Mumbai. T B Cunha launched his campaign for freedom of the State from Paris where he was studying electrical engineering. History tells us that geographical boundaries did not define Goa’s fight for freedom. People across all regions and religions stood up in unison.
NRIs with Goan roots have every reason to be involved with issues of the State, and legislators cannot discount them because they don’t have voting rights. Legislators should first understand the situations that forced Goans to give up their motherland and embrace a foreign territory. Those criticizing these NRIs should first accept their failure in providing jobs and failing to keep their promise of Goemkarponn. Most of the Goans have migrated due to unemployment and compelled because of financial constraints.
Those targeting the expats have exposed themselves and inadvertently acknowledged the role of NRIs. The crux of the matter is that issues of Goa don’t have a people’s mandate. It’s a shame that despite their detachment, expats have shown far more concern for Goa than some of the leaders who represent us.
Protests, debates and discussions are part and parcel of any democracy, and it all boils down to how well the government of the day handles them. Let Goa’s development be a participative and consultative process. The government is empowered by its people to take decisions, but that doesn’t mean it’s given a blank cheque. If there is a vicious campaign that is targeting the government, it is the job of the leaders to build a consensus and move with the people not against them. Transparency is the key to trust-building.
