Goans Holding Portuguese Passport Need Not Fear of Citizenship Amendment Act

Implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act has brought a sense of uncertainty amongst the people across the county and the opposition left no stone unturned to make the common man’s life miserable by confusing him more. Goa is the only state in India which was not ruled by the British and due to this Goans got the gift of Portuguese Nationality. Now that the CAA is into the force people of Goa had been misguided by certain elements making them feel insecure about their nationality, but the truth is completely different.

Although CAA created the massive uproar in the country Goa remained the most peaceful place and people did not resort to any violence but despite that the holders of Portuguese Passport still live in confusion clubbed with fear of losing their nationality which is not the truth.

The Chief Minister of Goa had made several statements in the media assuring Goans to not to worry about the CAA as it will not affect them in any manner.  

according to the Report, the day after the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in the parliament, the Goa Congress demanded the clarification asking what would be the fate of Goans who have opted for a Portuguese passport.    

“So many Goans opted for Portuguese passport because the government has failed to provide them employment. The only purpose to get Portuguese passport was to survive,” said the congress spokesperson Trojano Demello

Taking the cognisance of the statement of Congress Spokesperson the State NRI Commission released the clarification in media stating that Citizenship Act will not impact the rights of Goans holding Portuguese passport. But the uncertainty still continued amongst Goans holding Portuguese Passport.

The NRI commissioner Narendra Sawaikar asked the Congress to stop playing “divisive politics” on the issue. “How and why will CAB bill divide India? It will not affect the rights of Goan passport holders before or after the CAB Bill,” Sawaikar tweeted reacting to Congress statements.

I am surprised that any Goan has fears about these issues. When Goa got liberated, all the people who had Portuguese citizenship at that time were given Indian citizenship irrespective of whichever community they belonged to

Now the Railway Minister Piyush Goel on his visit to Goa has re-assured the Goans saying that, all the Goans who have acquired the Portuguese Citizenship will not have any problem due to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act.     

“We will ensure that every citizen of Goa who has Portuguese citizenship is safe, secure and most welcome in Goa and India,” Goyal said when asked about the fears among a section of Goans that those holding Portuguese passports would be adversely affected by the CAA. “I am surprised that any Goan has fears about these issues. When Goa got liberated, all the people who had Portuguese citizenship at that time were given Indian citizenship irrespective of whichever community they belonged to,” Said Piyush Goyal who was speaking with the Media on this visit to Goa.

Goans were ruled under the Portuguese regime unlike the rest of India which was ruled by the British and hence by birth Goans come under the purview of dual nationality as they become the part of India in 1961, and hence all the Goans born before 1961, their children and Grandchildren became eligible for the Portuguese Nationality and most of them acquired Portuguese Passport, (The process is still ongoing). Goans have travelled to European countries in the search of employment since then.

Image Source: WWDL