PANAJI
US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter landed in Goa Sunday on the first leg of his India trip visiting the Mangueshi Temple as well as the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where he prayed before the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier during his brief visit to the place.
Speaking to the media, Carter said, his India visit was “very significant” and expected to complete crucial business during the trip.
“There are so many activities that we (India and US) are doing together in this part of the world as well as in other parts. In many different ways we overlap to make a better world for our children,” Carter said.
Offering comments on the Indian government’s insistence that there should be technology transfer instead of “simply buying”, Carter said the desire to have a different model was there.
“That’s (Make in India) a very important thing… one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priorities and Minister Parrikar reflecting that in our defence activity by stressing co-development... technology sharing… rather than a simple model in which India buys. We want to have a different model,” Carter said.
He expressed happiness to be in this very ‘holy’ place and thanked the priests for hosting him.
Rector of Basilica Fr Savio Barreto as well as the parish priest of Old Goa Fr Alfred Vaz ushered the Defence Secretary around explaining details about the 16th century church which houses the venerated relics of St Francis Xavier.
Earlier in the day Carter landed at the INS Hansa Naval Base and was welcomed by Ameya Abhyankar Secretary to the Chief Minister as well as greeted by US Ambassador to India Richard Verma and US Consul General in Mumbai Thomas Vajda, all of whom accompanied Carter on his visits to Mangueshi and Old Goa.
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also accompanied Carter on his visits to Mangueshi and Old Goa.
In fact, Carter arrived after devotees and tourists were allowed to enter the church complex. The Mass finally began no sooner did Carter exit the Basilica at around 6:30 pm.
