the goan I network
MARGAO
The Goa Entertainment Association has strongly condemned what it termed as malafide, communal and undemocratic act of the Additional Collector South Goa for denying permission for the Christmas midnight dance at Nuvem on December 24-25.
Addressing the media, Association spokesman Lester Rodrigues also condemned the act of the Chief Minister’s Office ordering the Additional Collector to deny permission for a traditional event organised to celebrate a religious minority festival.
The Association has further requested the state government to take strict exemplary action against the officials involved in the unconstitutional act. “If no action is taken in the matter, then the entertainment industry as a whole will be compelled to take further steps to seek justice in the matter,” Lester said.
Flanked by Association President Dean D’Souza, Honorary member Dr Jorson Fernandes and others, Lester told the media that the malafide and illegal act of the state action has raised a fear of uncertainty and apprehension in the large number of Goans, who had come for the Christmas dance. “The interference of the CM’s office in a frivolous matter such as organizing a community dance speaks volumes of things yet to come,” he added.
Saying that the Association has taken up the matter as it is a serious precedent of how things may unfold in the future, Lester said the government should remember that India being a secular country, an important aspect of secularism is fraternity which postulates brotherhood and love to all. “These social family events are events where one joins in irrespective of caste, creed or religion and promotes love, peace and friendship,” he said, while demanding to know whether such types of acts manifested by the state government be termed as “Goemkarponn”.
Saying the event being a traditional Christmas dance where more than 800 complimentary passes were given to people to celebrate a season heralding love, peace and joy, Lester said, “This indirectly affected the right to freedom of religion as its an age-old custom and tradition to celebrate after the midnight mass, heralding in the Christmas season. Even the Supreme Court through its recent order stated that crackers on Christmas day could be burst between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am
since the celebrations start at midnight.”
