‘Punish Goans who applied for Portuguese citizenship’

Panaji: Goa, Daman and Diu Freedom Fighters Association on Tuesday demanded that Goans who have opted for Portuguese citizenship, using a unique Portuguese nationality clause, should be punished. They have also threatened to disrupt a heritage festival proposed by the BJP to be held in Panaji.
Addressing a press conference, president, Goa, Daman and Diu Freedom Fighters Association, Shyam Sunder Nagvekar and other members demanded the closure of the Portuguese consulate in Goa.
“We want punishment for Goans who have opted for Portuguese citizenship. Dual citizenship is a threat to the security of the state,” freedom fighter and poet Naguesh Karmali said.
“The Portuguese consulate should be shut down. British and French ruled India too, but they never acted like Portugal once they left,” Nagvekar said.
Over the years, nearly two lakh Goans are estimated to have opted for a Portuguese citizenship and at the same time retained their Indian citizenship, creating a unique crisis of sorts.
The Union home ministry recently proposed to form an authority in Goa to examine the citizenship issue on a case-to-case basis.