The Indo-Lusitanian Treaty
© Prakash J. Mascarenhas
14th March 1975
From TGF, I learn of the Treaty signed on March 14, 1975 by the Indian Union with the Revolutionary Government of Portugal.
Signed : March 14, 1975
Signatories:
Yeshwantrao Chavan, Foreign Minister, India
Mario Soares, Foreign Minister, India
Courtesy: United Nations Treaty series 1975: Vol: 982, pg: 159
As shown on the TGF site, at Indo-Lusitanian Treaty
The "Treaty" is a joke, because neither did the individual parts nor did the integral EIP ever undergo even the caricature of an Constitutional admission process into the Indian Union. There was NEVER any such process. Neither with any kind of legitimately elected legislature nor by any kind of plebiscite! Moreover, the treaty did not involve the concerned party - the EIP, therefore it has no binding value on it.
TGF says that it support this treaty. If so, then it must be consistent with its principles, and join with Harbans Singh in denouncing Portugal for ignoring the treaty and treating citizens of the EIP as still being Portuguese citizens.
In fact, even Portugal does not recognize this treaty, as it still, as above stated, treat EIP citizens as Portuguese citizens. Moreover, Goan marriage cases still go into appeal to Lisbon, not to Bombay or Delhi... Recently, an attempt was/is being made to change this, but it comes rather late in the day, and is damaging to the Indian Union's case!