the goan I network
MARGAO
South Goa District Collector, Anjali Sehrawat on Friday said concerned authorities will be asked to be on guard at the nine places in Salcete where a delegation of Gomantak Hindu Pratishthan delegation has alleged that they are being used to brain wash people for converting the people of other faiths.
A delegation of the Gomantak Hindu Pratishthan led by president Shailender Velinkar called on the district Collector on Friday evening and handed over a memorandum highlighting the activities of a Believers group across the State.
In the memorandum, the GHP claimed that these religious sects misguide and manipulate the masses by asking them to throw out idols and photos from their houses, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the people.
Alleging that members of these sects undertake door-to-door campaign to increase their membership, the GHP claimed that these groups conduct the activities, programmes and illegal conversions in the State and distribute essential commodities to attract the people. “We the Hindus respect all religions, but we strongly feel that such activities of illegal conversion allegedly carried out by these sects will create communal hatred/disharmony in the society and will further destroy the secular image of the country and will create law and order problem in the State,” the memorandum stated.
The Association has requested the Collector not to grant permissions to use open space, grounds, halls, auditoriums in Salcete taluka for these religious sects to conduct their programmes, events and put a stop to their activities.
They have cited around nine spots and halls in Salcete, including the tourist hall, and other venues such as Borda, Goulliwaddo, Dramapur, and other halls in the city.
The Collector said since the GHP has alleged forced conversions by these sects, the memorandum will be forwarded to the concerned authorities to keep a guard at the venues used by these sects. She said the authorities can also act as per the relevant law in force if these sects indulge in superstitions.
