Kabrastan issue
MARGAO
A group of parishioners of Borda and Raia have accused certain people having vested interest in the burning Kabrastan issue for deliberately spreading communal hatred amongst the communities by raking up the controversy and disturbing the harmony in the society, even as they disclosed plans to knock the doors of the court to stop the kabrastan from coming up at Sonsodo.
While condemning the actions of what they called as egoistic, self-centered and self-obsessed persons, who instead of working towards the betterment of the society are instead creating tension and disorder, the citizens made it clear that they have been opposing the proposed kabrastan purely on humanitarian and environmental grounds.
"The place where the kabrastan has been proposed is a rocky hill, having a gradient of more than 70 degree. The SGPDA and other authorities had earlier rejected the proposal to set up the kabrastan at the proposed site on grounds that the land is not suitable for a burial ground," stated Xavier Fernandes from Raia while addressing the media.
He pointed out that people of Borda and Raia would have opposed tooth and nail any other building or construction proposed on the hilly terrain. "Apart from being a hilly terrain, it is also an identified forest cover. Therefore, our loud and clear message to all those who are aiming to create unnecessary controversies, is that we have not opposed the proposed kabrastan on communal grounds, but on other serious apprehensions including environmental degradation," he said.
Xavier pointed out that the citizens had never said that Goan Muslim brothers should not have a kabrastan, instead, it has been our stand right from day one that they should have a decent burial ground and not a rocky hilly terrain, where even if the bodies are buried, they will not decompose. This is insult to the departed souls and a greater offense to human dignity," he added.
On the controversy on the day of the meeting at Sonsodo wherein some citizens told Fr Maverick Fernandes that the meeting is not open for him, Xavier lamented Fr Vincent has been unnecessarily roped into the controversy. "Fr Vincent was never involved in this issue. He was also not present on the day of the meeting when the parishioners requested Fr Maverick to abstain from attending the meeting," he said, adding "Fr Vincent is innocent and we will always be with him regardless of the confusion that is sought to be created by vested interests".
Saying that the government and the Muslim community have not been sincere in their dealings, Xavier said the kabrastan is merely an eyewash, adding that the citizens will approach the court of law if the government and the authorities bulldoze its way with the kabrastan at Sonsodo.
