PANAJI
Denouncing the hate speeches at the recent Goa Hindutva meet and moves to nationalise rivers in Goa, the All India Catholic Union (AICU) also demanded the setting up of a Minority Commission in the State.
This was stated by All India Catholic Union National President Lancy D'Cunha at a media event in Panaji on Monday, in the presence of past national president and spokesperson Dr John Dayal.
In a media release, the AICU denounced the hate speeches that emanated from the recent session of S
angh Parivar organisations in Goa. These have further vitiated the surcharged atmosphere, and aggravated the communal polarisation in the country.
Sadhvi Sarasvati's call for death to beef eaters is the type of targeting that has led to the rash of the large number of lynching of Muslims and Dalits in several states in India, the AICU stated.
The AICU, which celebrates its centenary in 2019 and is the oldest and largest laity organisation in Asia, held two-day special consultations on issues impacting the Christian community in the country.
In its review of the situation in Goa, the AICU expressed its solidarity with the demand of the Catholic Association of Goa for the setting up of a Minority Commission in the State. It noted that human rights and other bodies meant to safeguard constitutional rights were dysfunctional.
The Catholic union also said a major fear of the people is of moves to nationalise rivers of Goa to open them to the corporate sector as transport routes for coal. "Any proposal to make a coal transport hub poses serious threat to the health of the rivers and its ecology," stated the media release.
While congratulating Ram Nath Kovind on becoming the 14th President of India, the AICU has called upon him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order exemplary action against hate mongers.
"Although the government has sought to appease Christians in Goa and the North East by keeping the states out of the ban on beef, the politics of the cow has targeted Muslims and other communities whose food habits and economy depended on the trade in bovines. Its ramifications have not been fully understood, and AICU fears they will irretrievably damage the economic health of the farmers and the poor," the AICU said.
The Catholic Union also expressed alarm at the serial attempts by the Central and State governments to saffronise all levels of education in the country by direct changes in academic curricula, text books and teaching.
Sadhvi Sarasvati's call for death to beef eaters is the type of targeting that has led to the rash of the large number of lynching of Muslims and Dalits in several states in India, the AICU stated.
The AICU, which celebrates its centenary in 2019 and is the oldest and largest laity organisation in Asia, held two-day special consultations on issues impacting the Christian community in the country.
In its review of the situation in Goa, the AICU expressed its solidarity with the demand of the Catholic Association of Goa for the setting up of a Minority Commission in the State. It noted that human rights and other bodies meant to safeguard constitutional rights were dysfunctional.
The Catholic union also said a major fear of the people is of moves to nationalise rivers of Goa to open them to the corporate sector as transport routes for coal. "Any proposal to make a coal transport hub poses serious threat to the health of the rivers and its ecology," stated the media release.
While congratulating Ram Nath Kovind on becoming the 14th President of India, the AICU has called upon him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order exemplary action against hate mongers.
"Although the government has sought to appease Christians in Goa and the North East by keeping the states out of the ban on beef, the politics of the cow has targeted Muslims and other communities whose food habits and economy depended on the trade in bovines. Its ramifications have not been fully understood, and AICU fears they will irretrievably damage the economic health of the farmers and the poor," the AICU said.
The Catholic Union also expressed alarm at the serial attempts by the Central and State governments to saffronise all levels of education in the country by direct changes in academic curricula, text books and teaching.
