Influx of Kashmiri migrants in Goa a threat!
 Uddhav Thackarey

courtesy United News of India

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has cautioned Goans against the rising influx of Kashmiri migrants into the State.

At a press conference last night after releasing the party manifesto for the May 30 Assembly elections, Thackeray said: "If Goans do not wake up to this threat, it will be too late."

He said the Shiv Sena wanted to start on a clean slate in Goa to uphold the 'Goan asmita (culture and ethos)' rather than stick to non-issues like the Konkani-Marathi language dispute.

"Our image that we are perpetrators of riots is utterly wrong and we would strive to change the mindset of the people in the State, who are peace loving," he added.

His party wanted an alliance with BJP in Goa, but talks did not materialise either because the BJP thought highly about its strength in the State or the Shiv Sena had not been able to prove itself here, he said.

Besides the increasing influx of Kashmiri migrants, unemployment was the other major problem for Goa, he felt.

Thackeray said the Shiv Sena was determined to expand its base in Goa and added that his party had no intention to fight the BJP, its alliance partner in neighbouring Maharashtra.

"We wanted that the Shiv Sena-BJP and MGP should contest the Assembly election in alliance, but our wish did not succeed. But, in the next election, Shiv Sena in Goa would be a dominant force," he asserted.

UNI
Panjim - Goa, May 28, 2002

TGF comment:  The Shiv Sena leader has a point.  At the moment, there are far too many non Goans in Goa. A number of these non Goans are providing Goa with yeoman service, the vast majority are not. A good number of these migrants are unsavoury characters  from other States.

There certainly is a reported problem about the Kashmiris who have colonized the beaches of Goa. Goans should understand the reason for this migration. Kashmir is in a state of turmoil. Goans should offer shelter to the Kashmiris at this difficult time of their lives. However, as Uddhav Thackarey has cautioned, Goans must watch this situation carefully, before it is too late.

What intrigues TGF much is not so much the number of Kashmiris, but the number of people from Maharashtra who are in Goa. Is Mr. Thackarey saying that it is NOT OK for the Kashmiris to be in Goa, but it is quite OK for Maharashtrians to be there?

Somehow, Mr. Thackarey, that does not compute. You may wish to note that neither the Kashmiris nor their politicians interfere with the political process in Goa. Not yet, at least. The same, I am afraid, cannot be said about the folks from Mahaharashtra & their politicians.