On Wed, 28 May 2003 20:03:31 -0700 (PDT), Samuel Domingo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
16 years after attaining statehood Goans can be proud of historic day BY SHANTARAM NAIK Sometime in the month of April, 1987, we were having a small dinner party, at Panjim, at the residence of our host Dr Vijay Thali, renowned stage artist and, the then General Secretary of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. Myself, Mr Eduardo Faleiro, who were both Lok Sabha members and Mrs Sulochana Katkar and a few office-bears of the Congress Party were invitees. During the course of a discussion at the party, I said to Mrs Katkar and Mr Faleiro that during the budget session (which was on at that time), I propose to raise the issue of statehood, and that, as a preparatory step, a delegation of Congress leaders in Goa have to meet former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It is only if he gives green signal that I intend to go ahead with the matter and raise the same during Zero Hour, I told Mr Faleiro and Mrs Katker. In fact, since my election to the Lok Sabha in December 1984, I had two major objectives in my mind one, that of achieving statehood for Goa, and the other, of inclusion of Konkanni in the eight schedule of the constitution. I was successful as regards Konkanni only after my term as a MP was over, and, became the President of Goa PCC. It being a different story, I may narrate it on some other appropriate occasion. During the entire period of 1984 and 1985, I left no opportunity of raising the issue with Rajiv Gandhi be it during private meetings, dinner meetings or tea gatherings or at Parliamentary Party foras. Each time, I got an encouraging response from the ever smiling Prime Minister. However, I always refrained myself from raising the issue specifically in the Lok Sabha as, I knew that until and unless a decision is taken, I can only expect a negative reply. Therefore, by the time we left Dr Thali's dinner party it was decided that Mr Pratapsing Rane, the then chief minister, should be requested to lead a delegation to Rajiv Gandhi in this connection.Before that on 27th March, 1987, Mr Chintamani Panigrahi, the then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs while intervening in a debate, held on a private member's Constitutional Amendment Bill moved by me to provide for Public Service Commission for the Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu, referring to the speech of Mrs Phulrenu Guha, a senior MP from West Bengal, who had asked Mr Panigrahi to give me a firm assurance that the minister would bring in a bill to constitute Public Service Commission in Goa before asking me, routinely, to withdraw the bill, said that he would give me something more as a result of which, I will automatically withdraw the bill. And therefore, while finally replying to the postponed debate on 10th April, Mr Panigragrahi made a startling revelation that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is seriously considering granting of statehood to Goa. The news was carried by all national and local dailies. As I had decided to do something concrete in the House in the year 1987, in the matter of statehood, after doing private lobbying for first two years, I had given a notice of a private member's Bill demanding statehood for Goa in the beginning of the budget session. The bill was scheduled for introduction on 24th April, 1987, and, I did it with great enthusiasm on that day as, the bill although was slated merely for introduction, prevailing circumstances made it more relevant. Again, the next day, national and local dailies gave prominence to the introduction of bill. On 26th April, in his Stray Thoughts Rajan Narayan wrote, In fact if there is one Goan politician whom I admire, it is Mr Shantaram Naik. Though Mr Shantaram Naik is from North Goa, parts of which are a Marathi stronghold, he has time and again, demonstrated that he is a politician with principle. Incidentally, the proposed meeting of Congress delegation with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, idea of which was mooted by me at Dr Thali's residence, materialised on 28th April,87.The delegation comprised Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane, his cabinet colleagues Shaikh Hassan Haroon, Dr Proto Barbosa, Harish Zantye, Francisco Sardinha and Vaikhunt Dessai, Assembly Speaker Dayanand Narvenkar, Eduardo Faleiro, the then Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Purshottam Kakodkar, myself, Monte Cruz Vice-President of Goa PCC (PCC President Mrs Sulochana Katkar could not remain present being unwell)and Youth Congress President Mouvin Godinho. Mr Faleiro, who spoke, primarily on behalf of the delegation briefed Mr Gandhi about the long pending demand of the Goans, and that, if he (Rajiv Gandhi) grants permission, Mr Naik proposes to raise it in the House. Mr Gandhi looked at me and told me to meet him during Question Hour on the next day.Next day, a few minutes before 11 am, which is the time for the Lok Sabha to begin, I went to the chamber of the Speaker Balram Jhaker and, briefed him about previous day's development and said that I was likely to raise issue of Goa's statehood in case I get green signal from the prime minister. Speaker assured me about his co-operation. Accordingly, as soon as Lok Sabha assembled, I went near Rajiv Gandhi's seat and reminded him about the previous day's discussions. Rajiv Gandhi told me to wait for a while, as he said, he wanted to talk to Home Minister Buta Singh in that connection. I went and occupied my seat. Since Buta Singh did not turn up for quite sometime, I went to his office in the Parliament House itself and told Mr Singh that Mr Gandhi was waiting for him. The Home Minister said that he was expecting someone in his office, and that, he would come to the House soon. I occupied my seat again. It was almost 11.50 and there was no sign of Buta Singh. I thought I was loosing a great opportunity. But, to my surprise, at 11.55, Mrs Sheila Dixit, the then Minister of State attached to the Prime Minister�s office, came to my seat carrying the message of Rajiv Gandhi. She said Rajivji had asked you to raise the issue. My joy knew no bounds. I went and occupied one of the front benches and as soon as the Speaker uttered the words, Question Hour is over, I was on my seat to mention the issue. As soon as I finished mentioning the demand of Goans for statehood, the Speaker looked at the Prime Minister and asked whether he wanted to respond, to that, Rajivji got up and conceded my demand for statehood on the spot and I remained spell bound. It was 29th April, 1987, a day I am, and will always be, proud of. It was quite unusual for a Prime Minister to announce a decision of this magnitude during Zero Hour. I was sometimes sarcastically branded as Hero of Zero Hour in Goa. Protagonists of merger left no opportunity to undermine my work but I kept myself cool all the time. Subsequently, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 8th May, 1987. It was passed by Lok Sabha on 11th May and by Rajya Sabha on 12th May. In the Lok Sabha, when the bill came up for discussion, I pointed out to Mr Sharad Dighe that the name of the Bombay High Court whose jurisdiction was proposed to be extended to Goa, was being changed to High Court of Maharashtra and Goa. Mr Dighe rushed to Buta Singh and demanded an amendment restoring the original name of the Bombay High Court. However, the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha without anmendment but in the Rajya Sabha government moved an amendment to restore the original name of Bombay High Court, which amendment, had to be approved by the Lok Sabha subsequently. Goa thus came into being on 30th May, 1987. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################