Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant assured the House that the state government will continue celebrating January 16 as “Opinion Poll” day, to commemorate the 1967 referendum.
The private member’s resolution was moved by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Friday demanding that the state should commemorate January 16 as “Asmitai Dis” (Identity Day) to mark the Opinion poll.
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai participating in the discussion on the floor of the House pointed out that then CM Manohar Parrikar had started the practice of celebrating Opinion Poll Day.
He pointed out that the practice was discontinued after CM Pramod Sawant took over.
Responding to the resolution, Sawant assured the House that the Opinion Poll Day would be celebrated at the state level. He said that the state government is sensitive towards various days including Goa Statehood Day which are celebrated annually.
Sawant admitted that the state government had “forgotten” about Opinion Poll day. “Now, since you all have brought to our notice, the state government will celebrate the Day through state level function,” he said.
The historic Opinion Poll was held on January 16, 1967 wherein the people were asked to vote in favour or against the merger of Goa into neighbouring Maharashtra.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, who was part of the anti-merger movement during Opinion Poll, said that Goa would have been reduced to mere district, if the state was merged with Maharashtra.
He said that a Deputy Collector level officer would have been sitting at Raj Bhavan, administrating the state.
