Goa CM alleges 'political chicanery' over MLA's citizenship

Goa government will seek Centre's intervention in alleged 'political chicanery' over the citizenship of state legislator Caetano Silva, saying it has affected the future of around one lakh Goans, who have their birth registered in Portugal.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he will write to Union Home Minister seeking the order of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) related to a case filed against Silva, claiming that since his birth is registered in Portugal, he should be debarred as an Indian citizen.

"This is an order issued without any thought process. This is a political chicanery by former Goa Chief Minister Churchill Alemao and few a Congressmen in the Union government," Parrikar alleged.

Alemao has been backing the petition filed by a Goan citizen against Silva and had earlier sought his disqualification from the state Legislative Assembly while alleging that the MLA is a Portuguese citizen.

The case is currently being heard in Delhi High Court.

"The activities of Churchill and his party have opened up Pandora's box for around a lakh of people, who have their birth registered in Portugal," the chief minister said.

Goa, a former Portugal colony, was liberated in 1961.

Several Goans have registered their birth in Portugal not to get the citizenship but for other purposes like visa for European countries, he said.

"There are times when the birth could have been registered in Portugal without the knowledge of a person. There are some travel agents who do it," Parrikar said.

"I have requested MP Sripad Naik to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha and Rajiv Pratap Rudy to raise it in Rajya Sabha," Parrikar said.

Silva, a legislator representing Goa Vikas Party in the Assembly, had defeated Alemao's daughter Valanka Alemao in Benaulim constituency in the 2012 elections.