Proud to be person of Indian origin: Portugal PM

Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Sunday recalled his Indian roots at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bengaluru and said that he was proud to be a person of Indian origin.

Costa, who traces his roots to Goa, was the chief guest at PBD-2017. "Yes, I am actually a person of Indian origin," Costa said and even took out a card from his coat pocket and waved it at the audience. The delegates applauded Costa's gesture.

The 54-year leader recalled that his father - Orlando da Costa - had spent most of his youth in Goa, which was then under the Portuguese rule. “My father spent his childhood in Goa. We have never lost ties with India. I still have many relatives in Margao and will be visiting them shortly,” he said.

Costa said it is the duty of diaspora to connect the country of their origin with that in which they presently live.