The Hindu : Miscellaneous / This Day That Age : dated June 1, 1955: PM explains Goa policy

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - This Day That Age

dated June 1, 1955: PM explains Goa policy

The Government of India would adhere to their policy of dealing with the Goa question peacefully, "in spite of recent developments which have pained our people and us very much," declared Prime Minister Nehru at a press conference in New Delhi on May 31. He said the Government would adhere to the present policy with regard to participation of Indian nationals in the satyagraha movement. "That is to say, we do not approve of large number of Indian nationals going there but individuals have gone and they can go with the Goanese and others." Mr. Nehru emphasised that no vital principle was involved in this and, in fact, he admired the courage of those who wanted to go. In accordance with India's peaceful approach, it was completely open to the Government to take such steps in the economic domain as they considered proper. "We have taken some; we may take others." The Prime Minister categorically declared that the Government could not approve of large number of Indians proceeding to Goa for offering satyagraha. He said Goa belonged to India geographically and in every other way, and inevitably it must become part of the Indian Union. The whole question was how this could be brought about. It was absurd to expect India to tolerate any bits of foreign territory on her soil. But unlike the French, the Portuguese authorities had not only been non-cooperative but something much worse.

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