Dual citizenship: BJP and Churchill Alemao Mohandas Lolienkar The Goan Catholic community, particularly from the coastal belt, by sheer hard work outside India, contributed in a big way to Goa’s economy by way of foreign remittances. Like Kerala, remittances boosted the Goan economy as money was received in the form of dollars and dinars. From the sixties to the eighties of the last century, Goans worked in gulf countries as employment opportunities took a dip due to minimal or negative growth in the manufacturing sector. Tourism sector could not take cater to the requirements of all the Goans wanting to work for a decent living. Later on, with Portugal joining the European Union, Portugal became the gateway to Europe for Goans and persons from Daman & Diu. Portugal accepted Goans born before liberation and born to persons whose parentage was Goan. Portugal considered them to be Portuguese nationals entitled to citizenship rights and in the year 2006, the Portuguese government passed a law making registration of birth in Portugal tantamount to grant of citizenship. In 2006, Portugal’s Organic Law facilitated registration of births in Portugal which permitted Goans born before 19th December 1961 and born to persons of Goan origin to register their birth in Portugal. That by itself conferred citizenship to such persons, entitling them to work in Europe as they were Portuguese citizens. Goans rightfully exploited the Portugal connection to take up jobs in England and other parts of Europe. In fact it is said that Goa Velha lives in Swindon! Such was and is the rush to Europe by the Goan Catholic Community in search of their daily bread. Portugal joining the European Union provided direct access to Goans to European countries. Because of this development sometime around the year 2000, when the BJP-led NDA government was in power, Goans pitched for dual citizenship. However, the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, because of the “Ultra Nationalist” stand of the Bharatiya Janata Party, rejected the demand sealing the fate of thousands of Goans working in Europe after obtaining Portuguese citizenship by way of registration of birth in Lisbon. A new status called PIO (Person of Indian Origin) was created but it did not give any civil rights to the Goan who had opted for Portuguese citizenship. For almost a period of 10 years nothing moved on that front as hundreds of Goans, finding their birthplace not providing enough opportunities to make both ends meet, moved to Europe via Portugal. They went there despite the fact that the dual citizenship demand had been rejected. The middle class and the lower middle class had absolutely no intention of settling in Europe but it was question of their livelihood. Their hearts beat for Goa as they toiled in Europe. They never wished to settle there. The upper middle class also seized the opportunity with a fond hope of getting their children educated in European universities. It is this section that is the opportunistic class with no love for any place. They wished to settle in Europe and come down for dinner at Martin’s Corner or Souza Lobo! We have Glen Ticlo, Caitu, and almost the entire family of Churchill Alemao registering their birth in Portugal, probably to take advantage of what they perceive as the glamour and cream of western life. It is interesting to note that Churchill’s and Valanka’s births have not been registered and probably that is the reason why Valanka brought the Portuguese citizenship of the Benaulim MLA issue onto the table. They wished to contest elections here in Goa while their entire family enjoys the European life. What an ideal way of getting the best of both worlds! It is relevant to note here that while the Alemao family wishes to enjoy Portuguese citizenship, the common Goan, who uses this facility to slog for a living far away from his home, leaves his family behind as he does not have a choice. He spends the prime years of his life away from his near and dear ones with the hope that he will come back to Goa to them, but he is being deprived of this tiny slice of happiness because of one family’s greed for power. Their desire to get the Benaulim MLA disqualified has now pushed the entire Catholic community from the coastal belt to a point of no return. They have become foreigners in their own land. Their only crime, it appears is their desire to make both ends meet. Churchill Alemao, who built his political career with the support of the Catholic community, has pushed that community to the brink of helplessness by his greed for power. By this time, hundreds of persons from the coastal belt of Salcete, Tiswadi taluka and Canacona taluka, especially the Mashem-Loliem-Galgibaga-Agonda-Palolem belt, mostly from the Catholic community, have been deleted from the voters roll. Hundreds are facing prosecution for holding Indian Passports despite having Portuguese Citizenship. Hundreds are facing prosecution for buying property which they are not entitled to under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and with every passing day FIRs are being filed against those who registered their birth in Portugal. The can of worms has been opened, all thanks to one person’s sheer greed for the Benaulim seat. The BJP-led NDA government which dashed the hopes of the community by denying dual citizenship status and Churchill Alemao who brought the Portuguese citizenship to the centre table are now advocating dual citizenship. Can the coastal belt of Goa trust the BJP and Churchill Alemao again on this issue?
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:12:48 +0000
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