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Freedom fighters in Goa have taken offence and demanded an apology from the Portuguese ambassador to India Jorge Roza de Oliveira for his remarks over their repeated tirade against Portuguese initiatives in its former colony.
Addressing a Press conference here, spokesperson of the All Goa Freedom Fighter’s Association (AGFFA) Nagesh Karmali said, “The problem with Portuguese officials is that they still think they own Goa. This audacity continues to be a problem and comments like the ones Oliveira has made to the local newspapers stem from such an audacity,” Karmali said.
Oliveira, was in the State recently, on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the ‘25th de Abril revolution’ in Portugal. He had in an interview to a local English daily hit out at the freedom fighters’ constant bickering and criticism against Portugal. He said the issue of colonialism was long past and that the former colonial power had already “pleaded for forgiveness” from Goa back in 1974.
Besides hitting at Portugal, Karmali also demanded that the Fundação Oriente, an organisation preserving colonial culture in Goa, which he claimed was a Portuguese-backed intelligence operation on Goan soil, funded by monies sourced from casinos in Macau, also a former Portuguese colony. “We know all what they are doing here under the garb of spreading Portuguese culture. They are promoting a select group of influential people to tow their line,” Karmali said.
“Fundação Oriente should be thrown out of Goa,” he said.
Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for over 450 years, until it was liberated by the Indian army in 1961.
Addressing a Press conference here, spokesperson of the All Goa Freedom Fighter’s Association (AGFFA) Nagesh Karmali said, “The problem with Portuguese officials is that they still think they own Goa. This audacity continues to be a problem and comments like the ones Oliveira has made to the local newspapers stem from such an audacity,” Karmali said.
Oliveira, was in the State recently, on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the ‘25th de Abril revolution’ in Portugal. He had in an interview to a local English daily hit out at the freedom fighters’ constant bickering and criticism against Portugal. He said the issue of colonialism was long past and that the former colonial power had already “pleaded for forgiveness” from Goa back in 1974.
Besides hitting at Portugal, Karmali also demanded that the Fundação Oriente, an organisation preserving colonial culture in Goa, which he claimed was a Portuguese-backed intelligence operation on Goan soil, funded by monies sourced from casinos in Macau, also a former Portuguese colony. “We know all what they are doing here under the garb of spreading Portuguese culture. They are promoting a select group of influential people to tow their line,” Karmali said.
“Fundação Oriente should be thrown out of Goa,” he said.
Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for over 450 years, until it was liberated by the Indian army in 1961.
