Goa liberation: When Russia helped India defeat UN resolution backed by US, UK
Goa liberation: When Russia helped India defeat UN resolution backed by US, UK
On December 19, 1961, after more than four centuries under Portuguese rule, Goa was liberated and reclaimed by India. The liberation of Goa followed a series of events that strained relations between India and Portugal, culminating in ‘Operation Vijay’ by the Indian Army.
Goa’s liberation came 14 long years after India gained Independence from the British. This December 19 marks the 62nd anniversary of Goa’s liberation.
Despite India’s military action and Goans unshackling themselves, Portugal clung stubbornly to its colony.
Refusing to recognise India’s sovereignty, Portugal challenged India’s military action at the United Nations. While facing opposition from Western powers at the UN, India found an unwavering ally in the Soviet Union.
MILITARY ACTION TO FREE GOA
The struggle for Goa’s freedom intensified in the 1940s as India approached its own Independence. However, Goa remained a Portuguese stronghold, leading to an economic blockade imposed by India in 1955.
Tensions escalated when Portuguese forces fired upon Indian fishing vessels, resulting in casualties. This act of aggression prompted India to launch a full-scale military assault, which led to the surrender of the Portuguese governor general and the integration of Goa into India.
PORTUGAL INVOKES UN CHARTER
At the United Nations, the situation became a diplomatic battleground.
The United States, United Kingdom, and France supported Portugal’s resolution demanding India withdraw its forces. Portugal’s resolution was also backed by China, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil.
However, the Soviet Union, leveraging its veto power, stood by India, rallying support from countries like Liberia, the United Arab Republic (UAR), and Sri Lanka.
These nations criticized the West’s double standards, particularly highlighting the West’s silence on Portugal’s suppression of freedom movements in its other colonies, such as Angola.
HOW RUSSIA AND FRIENDS TOOK APART RESOLUTION AGAINST INDIA
The USSR’s permanent representative to the UN, Valerian Zorin, delivered a powerful condemnation of the Western stance, questioning the ethical grounds of their position given recent events like the US’s failed invasion of Cuba.
He questioned their moral authority to lecture India on aggression while harbouring colonial ambitions themselves.
The Soviet Union argued that Goa’s connection to India was undeniable, based on geography, history, culture, language, and traditions, effectively countering Portugal’s claim of ownership through long-term occupation.
Statements from representatives of the United Arab Republic, Sri Lanka and Liberia further dismantled Portugal’s arguments.
The UAR underscored Portugal’s blatant disregard for Indian sovereignty and the people of Goa’s right to self-determination. Sri Lanka denounced the presence of Portuguese troops in Goa as a “cancer” in India’s body, a foreign entity defying the will of the land.
Liberia pointed out that the UN had already recognised colonised regions as ‘non self-governing territories,’ and that Portugal’s intransigence had led to the necessity of armed action in Goa.
Ultimately, the Soviet Union’s veto of the resolution proposed by Portugal and its allies paved the way for Goa’s liberation. This event is testament to the strength of the Indo-Russian relationship, which has historically seen mutual support in times of need, including during the 1962 Chinese invasion of India.
Goa’s liberation wasn’t just a military operation; it was a diplomatic coup achieved on the world stage. Today, as Goa celebrates its freedom, it also commemorates the enduring friendship between India and Russia.