BJP’s South Goa candidate Pallavi Dempo outside the Holy Cross Church in Cavelossim during her campaigning.
PANAJI
Priests across the State have rejected BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade’s statements attributing the party’s defeat in South Goa to "interference" of religious leaders and have, instead, claimed that the minority community felt unsafe and insecure with the BJP, which is not the fault of religious leaders.
Sharing their views with The Goan, the priests claimed that people of South Goa had rejected the BJP for its divisive and communal politics.
‘Behave like matured politicians’
“I do understand the frustration of the state BJP top leaders after losing the South Goa seat, for which they worked beyond their capacity, using inducements, high-profile star campaigners and what not,” said Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, who is a voter of Dabolim constituency.
“My humble advice to the State BJP president as well as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is to keep in mind that it’s OK to lose a seat in a general election. But it’s not OK to lose their mind to understand that people of South Goa have unitedly rejected the BJP for its divisive and communal politics which is evident in even this particular irresponsible statement that Tanawade made to the media citing the reason for losing the South Goa seat.”
“As a South Goa voter, I demand to know from the BJP state president what was the ‘interference’ from religious leaders and who are those leaders he is vaguely referring to, in order to create confusion in people's mind, which has become a characteristic of BJP speakers in recent times.”
Fr Bolmax sought to remind the BJP leaders that I.N.D.I.A is not a religious party but a political coalition.
“Religious leaders of the majority, as well as the minority, believe in the Constitution of India and exercise their right to vote for the candidate of their choice. BJP leaders in Goa should behave like matured politicians and stop manipulating the minds of the vulnerable voters,” he said.
‘Allegations are false, baseless’
Fr Walter D'Souza, director at St Xavier’s Academy at Old Goa and a voter of Mandrem constituency, said the premise that there was ‘interference’ by religious leaders is false and baseless.
“People, especially the minority community, don't require religious leaders to tell them whom to vote. They themselves are aware of the situation, and the minority community is educated to make decisions for them,” said Fr Walter.
“If they had to listen to religious leaders, why did many of them not pay heed to the call given by the Cardinal to avoid going to the Vailankanni shrine on election day? Despite his official communication, many from the minority community chose to go to Vailankanni as the train was full of devotees.”
Fr Walter claimed that the atmosphere at the Centre targeting religious and ethnic minority communities, especially in Manipur, may have led minority communities to vote against BJP all over the country.
“That the minority community felt unsafe and insecure with the present regime is not the fault of religious leaders. Rather, it is the result of the observed interference of the BJP at the Centre in religious matters,” he said.
“Now that they have blamed their religious leaders, the minority community might take this as an attack on their religious leaders, for which the religious sentiments of the minority community may be hurt. This will require the BJP to get into damage control or lose control for blaming religious leaders baselessly.”
“The BJP has to sincerely do the ‘Atmantan’ rather than put the blame on religious leaders for your political failure in South Goa,” Fr Walter added.
‘BJP struggling to accept verdict’
Fr Albano Fernandes, Director of the Diocesan Family Service Centre and a voter of the Benaulim constituency, said it appeared to him that the BJP is struggling to accept the voice of the people which is shown by the result.
“They are known for their arrogance, pride, unjustified defence and revenge! It is they who have been using religion to hypnotise the voters. What they are accusing is called ‘projection’ in psychological terms,” exclaimed Fr Albano.
‘BJP trying to defend itself for defeat’
Orlim Parish Priest Fr Roger Godinho, OP, who is a voter of the Benaulim constituency remarked that the BJP is trying to defend itself for its defeat.
“This is not a factual statement. People have already made a choice. Captain Viriato Fernandes had been a voice in Goa, he doesn't require religious support. He was fighting for the issue of the people. So people have voted for him,” said Fr Roger.
‘Politics is caring for people’
Fr Loddy Pires, Director of the Don Bosco's Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Panaji, said politics is caring for the people.
“The afflicted masses have spoken. The best part of this election is that we are now alert. Religion has to enter politics when love is put aside. The church has always cared for the weak and the marginalised,” he said.
