On Monday, Captain Viriato Fernandes, the Congress candidate from South Goa has triggered a storm of criticism with his comments about India’s constitution. A retired Navy officer and Kargil War veteran, Fernandes declared that the Indian Constitution was “forced” upon Goans in 1961 after the coastal state won its liberation from Portuguese rule.
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His remarks have drawn heavy flak from various quarters including Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who lashed out against such a point of view.
Speaking during a local gathering in South Goa, Fernandes brought up an old conversation he had with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding dual citizenship two years ago ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to Fernandes, he met Rahul Gandhi on March 10th, 2019 at a hotel near Panaji where he expressed his perspective on how “when Goa was liberated in 1961, the Indian Constitution was forced upon us”. This statement sparked questions around environmental and societal issues connected to colonialism and post-colonial change.
The candid revelation by Fernandez comes as part of ongoing discussions on ‘dual citizenship’, which has been a key demand for many Goans over recent years. At that time in question, Fernandez was associated with ‘Goencho Awaaz’, an NGO committed to raising this issue among other things concerning Goan’s rights.
While undeniable strides have been made since Goa’s liberation over six decades ago under India’s democratic rule guided by its constitutional principles; these comments can give rise to heated debates surrounding suppressions unique to individual state identities within our nation.
Fernandez’s statement ignited fierce reactions across political circles fueling skepticism toward Congress’ stance towards post-colonial integration policies while igniting debates about broader national issues.
Critics argue these developments flag problematic intentions by Congress – possibly aiming towards dividing rather than unifying India – raising serious concerns about our collective national future. They opine it’s crucial now more than ever for political parties and leaders to focus on promoting harmony, celebrating diversity but also reinforcing unity within this pluralistic nation as symbolized by our Constitution.