Congress Candidate Evokes Nehru’s Speech to Claim Constitution Was ‘Forced’ on Goa Post-liberation

New Delhi: ding to its long list of gaffes and recent misgivings as Lok Sabha Elections 2024 got underway, Congress party's South Goa candidate Viriato Fernandes on Monday claimed that Indian Constitution was "forced" on Goa after its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961. Recalling that n-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru h said Goa (which became a state in 1987) will decide its own destiny, Fernandes lamented: "This did not happen".

Fernandes, who is known to be a vocal supporter of dual citizenship for Goans who have opted for Portuguese passports, was speaking during an election meeting in South Goa.

Referring to his earlier conversation with Congress leer Rahul Gandhi ahe of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Fernandes said he h told him, “When Goa was liberated in year 1961, Indian Constitution was forced upon us.”

Congress's South Goa candidate – at time – was part of an NGO which was pressing for dual citizenship for Goans who have opted for Portuguese passports.

"We (during a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in a hotel near Panaji) raised 12 demands before Gandhi, and one of m was about (granting) dual citizenship. Rahul Gandhi h asked me wher demand was constitutional. We said no," Fernandes reportedly told garing.

"I explained to him [Rahul Gandhi that Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. When Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961, you (referring to n central government) forced Constitution upon us. We were not included in it," news agency PTI quoted Fernandes as recalling during an election meeting in South Goa.

Underlining that he recalled a speech of Rahul Gandhi's grandfar (Nehru) in which former PM h said post-liberation Goa will decide its own destiny, Fernandes opined, "But our destiny was decided by someone else".  

Congress A Threat to Democracy, Pramod Sawant Says

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant took to social media platform 'X' to hit out at Congress candidate and his party. Stressing that Fernandes's comments were “appalling”, Goa CM called Congress “a threat to democracy”.

"I am appalled by comments from Congress's South Goa candidate claiming Indian Constitution was forcefully imposed upon Goans. Our freedom fighters believed wholeheartedly that Goa is an inseparable part of India. Congress delayed Goa's liberation by 14 years. Now, ir candidate dares to undermine Indian Constitution?," BJP leer said in a post.

Urging Congress to stop with politics of "breaking up" country, Sawant furr asserted, "Congress must stop this reckless Bharat Todo politics immediately. Congress is a threat to our democracy”.

Goa, which has two Lok Sabha seats, will vote on May 7 in third phase of polling.