Migrants' population on rise as Goans moving abroad: Minister

Amid a debate over the contentious issue of dual citizenship in Goa, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar today said that number of migrants settling in the coastal state is going up as the locals are moving abroad on Portuguese passports which is "not a good trend".
He also demanded that the Portuguese consulate, situated here, be shifted out of the state.
"Several Goans are taking the Portuguese passport and leaving the country due to which the number of original inhabitants is decreasing in the State.
"The migrant population has increased in Goa as the locals are shifting to other countries which is not a good trend," the minister told reporters here.

A large number of Goans, especially those born before 1961, are facing legal hurdles given that their birth was registered under the Portuguese rule in the coastal state, according them the status of Portuguese nationals.
Last month, Union minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said that Centre will soon notify an authority in Goa to decide the dual citizenship issue.
"I have been always demanding that the Portuguese Consulate be shifted out from Goa. We don't require it. It should not exist in the State," Dhavalikar said.
The MGP leader had in the past objected to the felicitation of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who has local roots, in Goa demanding that Portugal should first apologise for 450 years of oppressive rule.