Goa CM Parrikar says fight against Portuguese colonisation far from over

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday, June 18 said that the fight against Portuguese colonial rule in Goa is far from being over as there are some issues which are yet to be settled after the liberation of the state. The chief minister made this candid confession while addressing the state during Goa Revolution Day in Panaji today in presence of Governor Mridula Sinha.

Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for 450 years till 1961. Goa Revolution Day is celebrated to mark the event on June 18, 1946 during which freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia had given clarion call for a fight against Portuguese rule.

“The struggle which began 72 years back (in 1946) resulted in the liberation of Goa in the year 1961 but I feel the fight is yet to be over,” the chief minister said referring to the issue of enemy land at Mayem village.

“The issue of Mayem (evacuee property) is a part of this struggle (against colonial rule) and I am personally working to solve it as soon as possible,” the chief minister said.

Parrikar referred to the speech by a freedom fighter Chandrakant Pednekar, during the function, in which he had pointed out to the need to free lands in Mayem village of North Goa from being evacuee property, which is still in the custody of a landlord appointed by the erstwhile Portuguese government.

Parrikar admitted that his sickness and absence from the state has delayed the government’s resolve to make Goa plastic free in the year 2018. “We will work towards making plastic-free Goa in the year 2018. State government’s resolve towards it was delayed due to my sickness but it will gain momentum again now,” said Parrikar, who returned last week from his three month long treatment in the USA.

The chief minister rued that he has personally witnessed how most educated people throw plastic bags full of garbage at the roadside. “There is a reason why even educated people behave like this. It is because they are educated but without knowledge,” he said.

Parrikar said that on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day we should torch a flame of knowledge. “The need is to have revolution of knowledge in the state and not just education,” he commented.