When
will freedom fighters' list end ?
Sandesh Prabhudesai
4 July 2003
Veteran freedom fighter Manohar Prabhudesai had demanded
that a three-member commission headed by a retired judge be
appointed to thoroughly probe into the increasing list of
freedom fighters in the state.
In a letter written to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Prabhudesai
has suggested a commission, comprising of one retired judge
and two retired civil service officers, who are not the freedom
fighters.
The commission, he demands, should probe into antecedents
of all the Goan freedom fighters, registered under the central
government as well as the state government, including him
as well as those who have applied recently to register themselves
as the freedom fighters.
The issue in this regard, states the freedom fighter from
Canacona, was raised at a function held on 18th June at the
S. S. Angle Higher Secondary School, Mashem, during discussion
followed by his speech as the chief guest. He supported the
demand when he was asked why the freedom fighters themselves
are not demanding to investigate into the increasing list
of freedom fighters.
"During the discussion, I realised that people have
suspicion about the committee of freedom fighters, which scrutinises
the applicants before they are registered as the freedom fighters
in the state home ministry. Since the pension amount disbursed
to us is collected from the people, I feel that people have
a right to demand investigation into it and the government
is also duty-bound to meet the demand", states the letter.
Prabhudesai, the aged freedom fighter, was the president
of the Goa Freedom Fighters' Organisation in the past and
has also worked as the member of the Freedom Fighters' Rehabilitation
Committee.
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