the goan I network
MARGAO
On the eve of the mega anti-CAA rally called by the Church-backed Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) in association with other groups at the Lohia Maidan, Margao on Friday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed his willingness for an open debate on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, reiterating the Act will not affect any Goans, including Christians and Muslims.
Urging Goemkars to be on guard, the Chief Minister said systematic attempts are being made to spread false propaganda on the CAA issue with the objective to divide the people on religious and caste lines.
He sought to blame the opposition behind the false propaganda, saying there may be people who may dream big and exploit the issue with the Zilla Panchayat election round the corner.
The Chief Minister took the SARAS 2020 platform at Margao here on Thursday to convey a message that he is ready for an open debate on the issue, while making a fervent plea not to indulge in politics on religious and caste lines. “Some outside people are coming to Goa to spread falsehood on the CAA. We have to be on guard. If they have anything to say on CAA, I am ready for an open debate on the issue”, he added.
He dwelt at length on the CAA issue, going to the extent of saying that Goan Christian brothers and
sisters, who were staying in Karachi at the time of partition will benefit out of the CAA. “The CAA has been enacted to give benefit for religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Unlike India, where people enjoy equality, these three countries are Islamic countries with a history of religious persecution against the minorities. History shows that Christians have suffered the most in Pakistan
all these years. There were even reports that Christians from Pakistan are being sold in China. Have we forgotten this”, the Chief Minister said, adding “Goan Christians in Karachi, whose relatives are staying in Goa, will also get the Citizenship under the CAA”.
Saying that the CAA is not intended to take away the citizenship of any person, the Chief Minister
demanded to know how the government has done anything wrong when citizens from these three
countries have been awaiting citizenship for the last 70 years. “There’s no question of the CAA affecting either Christians or Muslims staying in Goa. But, certain people are out to spread false information on the CAA. We have to remain alert”, he said.
Exuding confidence that Goans will not fall prey to the false propaganda, the Chief Minister said Goans, irrespective of religion and caste, had all along maintained communal amity and brotherhood. “Goans, whether Hindus, Christians and Muslims have been celebrating each other’s festivals. Theirs is perfect brotherhood amongst the people and we have to maintain this bond to take forward in the new Year”, he said.
He pointed out that the Goa government had in the past stood by the decisions of the Centre and
there’s a need to stand by the Centre in the future as well.
When the media later asked him whether he has offered for an open debate on the CAA with the Lohia Maidan meeting in mind, the Chief Minister said he was always ready for a debate on the issue along with abrogation of 370 and 35-A of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister’s statement on the CAA from Margao comes against the backdrop of reports that
many a party MLA from South Goa have gone into an introspection mode over the fall out of the anti-CAA agitation in their respective constituency with the Church-organ CSJP calling for a mega public rally against the CAA at the Lohia Maidan on Friday evening.
